Many of us here in the U.S. were shocked and disappointed by the results of yesterday’s Presidential election. It seems as though hatred has won the battle against love. But Gia and Karen present a new mindset to adopt as we look at this event to help us rise above it and make the best of what feels like a very bad situation. They talk about the positive outcomes that arise from starting over again after a destructive experience and why we must remember to keep loving and not descend into fear or hatred.
In this episode Gia begins by sharing Something Positive: a program in an elementary school in Baltimore that teaches children breath work and meditation instead of sending them to detention. They send a misbehaving child to a “Mindful Moment” room for reflection and some calming meditation. This program has yielded very positive results for the school – well done!
Next Gia and Karen talk about how to regain trust after you’ve been betrayed by another person or by life itself. It’s important to learn some recovery skills so that betrayals don’t cause us to spiral down into victimhood or fear. The conversation includes:
betrayal is a normal part of life – everyone is just human, trying to do the best they can
ultimately our trust should be in ourselves and our own Divinity rather than in people or things outside of ourselves
if we truly trust ourselves and our higher power then we don’t need anyone else in our lives to be totally trustworthy
betrayal can cause us to contract in fear and make ourselves small for self-protection if we don’t learn how to cope with it
even if we’ve healed the past we have to be open to betrayal happening again – have equanimity and compassion for others who are just being human
be able to take the Galaxy view and recognize that life has no guarantees and offers us many different opportunities to learn our lessons
betrayal is one of the biggest lessons we each must learn – so accept from the outset that life is going to bring this experience
we can allow others to be who they are when we place our trust within – we don’t require others to be perfect for us
we can become bitter if we expect our God to always prevent “bad” things from happening to us – this is a misunderstanding of what life is all about
Tips for regaining trust:
turn to prayer and meditation when you feel hurt or betrayed
accept your feelings rather than judging them
trace your own life journey and recognize all of the unexpected things that have happened, both surprises and disappointments; look for patterns in the ups and downs and recognize how life is teaching you certain lessons
consider that your current betrayals may be pointing you toward old wounds that still need to be healed
focus on loving yourself even more, especially when you feel fear
know that you have the power to take care of yourself and to make the highest choices for yourself
Remember: It’s Just Life! with all its crazy ups and downs – the more your emotions rise to the surface the faster you are growing and evolving! Be a Spirit Warrior and a Change Pioneer – join our community and help us forge new territory in life!
As always we love you and send you tons of joy! Thanks for sharing this journey with us! Leave us your comments and go to iTunes to post reviews for this podcast. See you next time!
Today Gia and Karen start with Something Positive: a video of a winning boys soccer team comforting the players of the team they just defeated. This was a beautiful example of being humble and compassionate even in the midst of celebrating a victory.
The discussion today centers around the dilemma between quitting something and being persistent to the bitter end. How do you know when it’s for the best to say goodbye and move on from something? Some of the topics that come up in this conversation are:
If leaving is right for you it will ultimately be right for everyone else involved
There is no definite timeline for leaving–it can time to be fully ready to move on
It should feel easy and light to make the decision when the time is right
Sometimes we have to make a leap of faith and leave the old situation before the next step is visible
Fear is not the right reason for leaving or for staying – so if fear is involved in the choice then more work needs to be done to process the decision and look for higher guidance
From Spirit’s perspective there isn’t really a right or wrong choice – there is only the “why” of the choice and the energy behind it
Our choices should always be motivated by self-love
Sometimes limiting beliefs have to be overcome in order for us to keep moving forward in our lives
Remember that this is no mistake – you will be offered the lessons you need no matter what choices you make
We have to be willing to let go of what is not serving without the assurance of what is coming next
You are the co-creator of your own life so be courageous to leave behind the old and participate in creating your next step
Instead of “quitter” see yourself as a “change pioneer”!
There will always be things that we need to leave behind and quit so let’s get comfortable with it!
In this episode Gia shares Something Positive: the story of blind runners in the Men’s 100m race in the Paralympics. Each runner runs with a guide at his side who helps him stay in his lane and guides him to the finish line. The relationship involves maximum trust and vulnerability on the part of the blind runner and humility and selflessness for the guide. Truly inspiring!
Next they discuss the importance of being authentic and vulnerable and the fact that it takes true strength to be open and real. While our society favors strength and discourages vulnerability it is crucial for our spiritual development that we learn to be authentic. Other ideas covered include:
We fear vulnerability if we aren’t sure we are worthy of love
Vulnerability is actually a relationship with yourself because only you know your hidden depths
Fear of being vulnerable is actually fear of seeing yourself
No one judges us as harshly as we judge ourselves
We use our experiences to validate our fears and look for proof in others that our fears are real
Gia describes a practice to help you make your highest choice rather than acting from fear (see blog below)
Self-referring vs. self-reflecting
What we really long for is our own Soul’s wisdom rather than validation from another person
God is in everything, even in every emotion you experience, so it is safe to be who you are in every moment
Your journal is the perfect place to be completely you and practice being vulnerable
Gia shares the “22 Pushup Challenge” to raise awareness for the 22 veterans who commit suicide every day. This campaign is to get people to offer more support and create more programs for veterans who are suffering from PTSD. Connect with Gia on Facebook if you would like to participate in the challenge (see the link below.)
In this episode Gia and Karen discuss the challenge of listening for and following Divine guidance. You’ll hear their own stories of learning how to hear guidance when it comes. They talk about:
the definition of guidance
how guidance often comes as small nudges rather than earth-shattering revelations
how to distinguish soul guidance from the worries of the mind
Tips for hearing your guidance:
recognize that guidance has a peaceful, soothing energy
true guidance brings clarity and a sense of inner knowing
directions are simple
keep an open and curious mind when receiving guidance
let go of attachments to the outcome and trust the guidance you have been given
This episode begins with a discussion of what’s going on professionally for Gia and Karen:
Gia will be playing music for a Grief Workshop on Sunday September 11, 2016 in Encinitas, CA; find out more at www.soulofyoga.com; she will also be playing for a Full Moon Painting Workshop on September 16th at the Lazy Hummingbird in Ocean Beach.
Karen’s new ebook The Tao of Death is on sale this weekend on Amazon.com at this linkand the print version will be available next week; she is currently putting together Death Expo a 4-day online interview series about end-of-life issues, November 10-13, 2016. Find out more at eoluniversity.com.
Something Positive is the story of a young man who traveled to Panama for one month with only the clothes on his back and his passport. He found people everywhere willing to help him out with food, shelter, work, transportation, and photography. He wants to tell everyone that the world is a friendly place!
Today’s discussion covers:
why some newly-awakened spiritual seekers can feel guilty when they first become aware of the suffering in the rest of the world
some people wonder how there can be a benevolent God when there is so much pain in the world
how higher consciousness (Galaxy view) can transcend the polarity of this world
why you should not compare your path with others
that you can still have abundant joy and love even in the midst of suffering
why you should face the world with open eyes and heart, without fear, and bring as much love as possible
if you focus on light and love you will find it wherever you go
God is in everything – there is no place that is without God
the “Sunrise Practice”: watch the sun rise every morning and recognize that you are surrounded by light and love, always!
Today Gia shares her current personal situation in which life is “on pause” due to her roommate’s hospitalization after a bike accident. This unexpected event is the stimulus for a great conversation about the opportunities available when life’s tragic occurrences force us to take time out from our day-to-day busy schedules. The discussion includes:
why times of crisis are opportunities for transformation
reminders that we are not really in control over most of life – we are passengers, not the drivers of our “life vehicles”
how hospitals are sacred spaces
the process of healing from a conscious perspective: mind vs soul
the importance of being still and waiting to see what’s next
Take-home messages:
respond to every crisis with love, not fear
see the blessing in “the pause”
embrace whatever happens in your life
As always, we are here to share with you our own personal journeys through life’s ups and downs so that you will know that you are not alone and YOU ARE LOVED!
Take good care of yourself, spread love wherever you go, and remember that It’s Just Life!
Today Gia and Karen start off with Something Positive: the story of a dog who “adopted” an ultra-marathoner by running alongside him during an event in China.
Then they talk about the experience of having unexpected obstacles show up when following clear guidance. They offer their own best tips for coping with these sudden “stop signs” on the path of progress:
reframe the situation – see it as a need for better timing or an opportunity to learn more
let go of attachments to the outcome of your guidance
learn to trust the wisdom of the Universe
be curious about life’s mysteries
have patience and let life unfold with its own timing
journal about obstacles and the feelings that are arising
choose a totem as a daily reminder of your Divine guidance
don’t take the obstacles personally
Karen shares this quote by Rumi:
A new moon teaches gradualness and deliberation and how one gives birth to oneself slowly. Patience with small details makes perfect a large work, like the universe. What nine months of attention does for an embryo forty early mornings will do for your gradually growing wholeness.
We love, love, love you and are so glad you are joining us on this journey. Sending you positive energy to help you get through all your obstacles! Be sure to send us your comments and leave reviews on iTunes at this link.
Today Gia and Karen start the podcast with a new weekly feature: Something Positive. Today’s positive story is about a woman in Philadelphia who learned that her Uber driver had a son competing in the Olympics but couldn’t afford to travel to Rio to watch his performance. So she gathered her friends together and raised the money to pay his expenses and that Dad is on his way to Rio to cheer for his son! We need more people like that woman who take the time to listen to other people’s stories and act with compassion and generosity.
The subject for today is Impermanence and the discussion includes all of the normal changes we experience as we grow through life. These “little deaths” help shape who we are and occur to gradually break down our attachments and prepare for our ultimate death. But Westerners are resistant to change in general and thoughts of death. We talk about:
The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying by Sogyal Rinpoche and how Buddhists prepare for death throughout their adult lives
The need to let suffering change us as we journey through life
The challenges of change for the ego which clings to self-identity
The importance of seeing the Galaxy view to help us through the ego’s struggles in the Garden
The best mindset for coping with change and impermanence
Karen’s new book: The Tao of Death – an adaptation of Lao Tzu’s Tao Te Ching from the perspective of Death; the book can be used as a daily guide for contemplating death and impermanence – a Companion Journal is available with prompts for daily journaling.
We love you and send you all our support for your journey through change and impermanence! Be sure to leave reviews for us on iTunes and share our podcast with your friends! Until next week take care!
In today’s episode Gia and Karen welcome their first guest, Dr. Larry George, who is Gia’s Dad and Karen’s husband. Dr. George is a family physician who recently retired from practice and is a student of Integral Theory, particularly the work of Ken Wilber. The trio discusses masculine and feminine energies, what happens when they are out of balance, and some ideas for getting into balance. The conversation includes:
The difference between male/female designations and masculine/feminine and why it’s important to understand
How patriarchy began for practical, survival reasons
That testosterone is the driver of primitive male behaviors for procreation and protection (“f*** it or kill it”)
How societal violence leads to fear and more violence
Why there is currently a clash of civilizations on the planet due to the existence of many different levels of socio-cultural evolution at the same time
Tips for helping male consciousness evolve and controlling testosterone-driven behaviors:
education
spiritual practice
nurturing relationships
Why higher consciousness is needed to help quell violence on the planet
Why compassion and forgiveness are important as we all seek to evolve (rather than blame and judgement)
The importance of finding our own inner balance of masculine and feminine energies
As always we love you and support you in your own process of spiritual growth! Send us your questions and concerns. Visit iTunes to write a review if you feel inspired and share our podcasts with others who might benefit from them!
It's Just Life! 