Key Takeaways

• Seven Zen Stoic principles for building strong, lasting, and loving relationships
• The importance of mindful presence and communication in relationships
• The role of compassion, empathy, and acceptance in creating deeper bonds with loved ones
• The significance of non-attachment, freedom, and mutual growth in relationships
• Prioritizing emotional currency and embracing the moment with gratitude for stronger bonds with loved ones

Anger is often demonized and seen as a negative emotion, but it can actually be a gift and a tool for creating a better life. Anger is a deep sense of love and care for ourselves, our bodies, the world, and the people we love. It is a powerful tool that can be used for constructive action or can become destructive if not understood and managed. Understanding anger involves reflecting on what we love and want to protect, enforcing boundaries, and using anger to move into meaningful action. By embracing and understanding anger, we can harness its power and create unshakable inner peace.

Key Takeaways

• Anger is a deep sense of love and care for ourselves, others, and the things we hold dear.
• Anger can be a powerful tool for constructive action or can become destructive if not understood and managed.
• Understanding anger involves reflecting on what we love and want to protect, enforcing boundaries, and using anger to move into meaningful action.
• By embracing and understanding anger, we can harness its power and create unshakable inner peace.

In this episode, Victor discusses the antidote to resentment and feeling unappreciated when giving to others. He introduces four principles of sovereign giving: giving sincerely, detaching from the outcome, ensuring the recipient is willing to participate in their own rescue, and clarifying what is actually needed using the H quadrant (help, heard, hugged, hamburger). By following these principles, one can give from a place of sincerity and empowerment, avoiding feelings of resentment.

Key Takeaways
Give sincerely and only when you genuinely want to give.
Detach from the outcome and let go of expectations.
Ensure the recipient is willing to participate in their own rescue.
Clarify what is actually needed using the H quadrant (help, heard, hugged, hamburger).

In this episode, Victor Pierantoni explores the concept of balance and how it relates to personal growth. He discusses the different ways to approach growth, including speeding up, maintaining, or slowing down the rate of growth. Victor introduces the five intentions of Zen Stoic philosophy: embrace, understanding, discipline, sincerity, and unity. He explains how each intention can help create a sense of balance in life. Victor emphasizes the importance of embracing emotions, asking new questions to gain understanding, doing what is meaningful, expressing sincerely, and being present in the moment.

Takeaways

• Balance is not something that needs to be created, as the universe is always balanced. It is about finding balance within ourselves.
• Embracing our emotions and allowing ourselves to fully feel them is essential for balance.
• Understanding ourselves through self-reflection and asking new questions helps create balance in our thoughts.
• Discipline and doing what is meaningful to us is key to finding balance.
• Expressing sincerely and being authentic in our words and actions contributes to a sense of balance.
• Being present in the moment and recognizing our interconnectedness with others promotes unity and balance.

In this episode, Victor discusses the concept of intentional influence and being a heart-centered leader. He emphasizes the importance of prioritizing the humanity in each individual and creating emotional currency to build deep bonds and trust. Emotional currency is defined as the degree to which someone feels safe, seen, heard, understood, and respected. Victor explains the five pillars of emotional currency and provides practical tips for creating safety, making someone feel seen and heard, and showing respect and admiration. He highlights the significance of emotional currency in various relationships, including professional, personal, and romantic.

Key Takeaways

-Being a heart-centered leader means prioritizing the humanity in each individual and creating emotional currency.

-Emotional currency is the degree to which someone feels safe, seen, heard, understood, and respected.

-The five pillars of emotional currency are safety, feeling seen, feeling heard, feeling understood, and feeling respected.

-Practical tips for creating emotional currency include setting and fulfilling expectations, active listening, reflecting back what someone has said, and giving genuine compliments.

-Emotional currency is crucial in building trust and deep bonds in various relationships, including professional, personal, and romantic.

Click the link below to apply for the Liberation Coaching Academy:
https://liberationcoachingacademy.com/

Takeaways

-Living one's purpose is the most natural thing we can do, but our beliefs and identities often prevent us from doing so.

-Right livelihood means making a living in a way that aligns with our values and doesn't harm others.

-Start with what you love and find ways to serve others while staying aligned with your values.

-The five laws of stratospheric success include giving more value than you receive and being open to receiving.

The conversation also touches on the influence of philosophies like Stoicism and Zen on Mike's mindset and journey. In this conversation, Mike Barnhill shares his journey of rediscovering his passion for music and integrating it into his successful business. He emphasizes the importance of practicing and continuously improving in the things we love, inspiring others through our enthusiasm and joy. Mike's example shows that living a liberated life means optimizing for joy and prioritizing connection with others. He also discusses the power of letting go of old stories and transforming relationships. The conversation highlights the contagious nature of living a fulfilling life and the impact it can have on those around us.

Key Takeaways
-Creativity enhances all aspects of life and should be prioritized
-Having a daily ritual, like sitting in the producer's chair, can help foster creativity
-Music can be a powerful tool for processing emotions and connecting with others
-Scaling hope involves sharing both the good and the bad in life
-Philosophies like Stoicism and Zen can provide guidance and perspective Rediscovering and pursuing our passions can bring joy and inspiration to our lives.
-Practicing and continuously improving in the things we love is essential for growth and fulfillment.
-Living a liberated life means optimizing for joy and prioritizing connection with others.
-Letting go of old stories and transforming relationships can lead to personal growth and happiness.
-Living a fulfilling life can have a contagious effect on those around us.

Check out Hydra Fighter:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChe5iHHYfzG3EWHAX2_QG3g

Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/artist/1Rl4WspBn5afCAjPyrTYYQ

When you think of money or wealth, do you have a positive, negative, or neutral feeling?

In this episode we dive into the topic of wealth and money from a Zen Stoic perspective. We explore a few passages from The Tao of Solomon, which has some groundbreaking insights that help to create unshakeable inner peace with regards to the topic of money.  The key to true wealth in life, is to first become wealthy within and this episode covers exactly how to do that.

If you are ready to bring more money and wealth into your life, check out the free Magnetic Money Meditation using link below:
https://magneticmoneymeditation.com/

To check out more of Michael's work and his podcast, click the link below:
https://www.michaeldostrolenk.com/

The Sovereign Awareness Technique is hosted in our free Skool community: The Zen Stoic Dojo

Click the link below to join:

https://www.skool.com/the-zen-stoic-dojo-8057/about

In this conversation, Stefanos shares his wisdom on healing childhood traumas, understanding toxic masculinity, and embracing healthy expressions of masculinity and femininity. He discusses the concept of levels of consciousness and emotional signatures, exploring different energy levels and their impact on our lives. Stefanos emphasizes the importance of self-awareness and self-reflection in personal growth and transformation. He also shares information about his work, including his relationship coaching and breathwork facilitation. 

Key Takeaways
-Creating a community allows for collaboration and collective impact.
-Wealth is not just about money, but also about growth, abundance, and expansiveness.
-Inner work, including somatic practices and breathwork, is essential for personal growth and wealth creation.
-Anger is a misunderstood emotion that can be constructive when expressed and connected to in a healthy way.

Connect with Stefanos at:
https://stefanossifandos.com/
https://asraya.io/

Dr. Mario Garcia shares his journey into coaching and the importance of making decisions. He emphasizes the power of emotional clarity in decision-making and the need to be a student of one's results. Dr. Garcia also discusses the dangers of inauthenticity and distraction in today's society. He highlights the importance of effective communication and the ability to learn from different schools of thought. Ultimately, he encourages individuals to seek discernment and authenticity in their decision-making process. 

In this conversation, Dr. Mario Garcia and Victor Pierantoni discuss the importance of living with love and compassion, learning from failures, discovering one's identity, and choosing between rules and grace. They explore the concept of the two trees in the Garden of Eden and the significance of knowing one's calling and purpose. They also emphasize the dangers of installations and projections, the importance of living in reality rather than fantasy, and the need to respect different models of the world. The conversation concludes with a discussion on measuring results, taking responsibility, and finding freedom and liberation through repentance.

Key Takeaways
-Discipline prioritizes what is truly meaningful to you, while expediency prioritizes instant gratification.
-Delusions offer short-term wins but take us away from ourselves and the experience of life.
-The intention of discipline involves being a student of something bigger than yourself and taking actions that benefit not only you but also others.
-Ikigai, the intersection of what you love, what you're good at, what you can be paid for, and what the world needs, provides a framework for understanding discipline.
-Doing what you love and living a life that is authentic and rich in meaning is essential for fulfillment.

Step into your greatness with Marc:
www.SoarAndRoar.com 
https://www.facebook.com/groups/lightwarriorsinc
https://bit.ly/48NSU8s

Key Takeaways

• Suffering arises from attachment to specific thoughts or perceptions.
• The mind seeks closure and reassurance, often leading to control.
• Questioning our beliefs and assumptions expands our understanding.
• Practicing the intention of understanding and asking new questions breaks the delusion of control.

Key Takeaways

• Returning to our original breath can help us feel safe and regulate our nervous system.
• The purpose of life is to live it and be present in the moment.
• Creating safe environments, such as anchored birthing centers, can have a profound impact on individuals and society.
• Feeling emotions without identification can lead to a greater sense of liberation and self-awareness.
• Exploring new ways to regulate our system and finding new anchors can lead to personal growth and transformation. Trauma can impact emotional regulation and prevent individuals from experiencing a wide range of emotions.
• Healing from trauma requires a holistic approach that includes self-care, breath work, meditation, and creating a safe environment.
• The shot can provide a window of opportunity for healing, but it requires ongoing effort and a willingness to change one's environment.
• Anchors, such as meditation and other practices, can help regulate the central nervous system and create a sense of safety and stability.
• Living a liberated life means recognizing and honoring one's own needs and taking aligned and inspired action.

Check out Jeff's work at: https://www.theanchoredhuman.com/

Follow Jeff on Instagram: @theanchoreddad

Key Takeaways

• Mastering emotions involves embracing and understanding them, rather than controlling them.
• The Intentions and Delusions framework allows for unshakable inner peace.
• The four virtues of Stoicism (wisdom, temperance, justice, and courage) are important, but true inner peace comes from accepting and embracing oneself.
• The five fundamental experiences of life (feeling, thinking, doing, expressing, and being) are explored, with a focus on feeling.
• Embracing emotions allows for the processing of emotional debt and leads to physical and mental health benefits.
• Using emotions as a compass can guide decision-making and lead to a more authentic life.
• Embrace involves feeling both pleasant and unpleasant emotions, while resistance involves avoiding feelings.
• Borrowing from other experiences (thinking, doing, expressing, being) to avoid feeling creates emotional debt.
• Practicing embrace by feeling emotions fully can lead to clarity and authenticity.

Key Takeaways
- Psychological work and spiritual work are both important for personal growth and should be integrated.
- State changes can lead to profound realizations, but consistent practice is necessary to stabilize these changes.
- Martial arts can be a powerful tool for character development and self-reflection.
- Humility and appreciation are essential qualities in martial arts and personal growth. The sweetness of life is what makes life worth living.
- Operating from a heartfelt place is essential for personal growth and helping others.
- Exploring new coaching modalities can lead to breakthroughs in therapy and coaching sessions.
- Shaking up traditional therapy and coaching methods can lead to more intense and transformative experiences.
- Intense outdoor adventure coaching can provide opportunities for psycho-spiritual and physical growth.
- Living a liberated life is an iterative process of freeing oneself from limitations and restrictions.
- Honoring the human experience is important in personal and spiritual growth.

Key Takeaways
- Zen Stoic philosophy combines Zen Buddhism and Stoicism to create unshakable inner peace.
- Living a life of intention and engaging fully with life is key to personal growth and self-discovery.
- The intentions and delusions framework helps to understand and overcome emotional debt.
- Embracing feelings, seeking understanding, practicing discipline, expressing sincerity, and embracing unity lead to emotional prosperity.

In this episode, Victor Pierantoni interviews Luke Voigt, the founder of Lion's Mane Extract. Luke shares his personal health crisis and how he discovered the benefits of Lion's Mane extract for brain health. He explains the process of creating Lion's Mane extracts and the benefits of taking it in concentrated form. Luke also discusses the impact of Lion's Mane extract on mental stamina and focus. He shares his coaching approach and the importance of focus in achieving goals. Luke emphasizes the role of philosophy in his life and his vision for coaching and leadership. He concludes by discussing what it means to live a liberated life. In this conversation, Victor Pierantoni discusses the benefits and science behind Lion's Mane mushroom. He explains how Lion's Mane can improve cognitive function, boost creativity, and enhance memory. Victor also explores the potential health benefits of Lion's Mane, such as reducing inflammation and supporting gut health. He provides tips on how to incorporate Lion's Mane into your daily routine and shares a promo code for a discount on Lion's Mane extract. The conversation concludes with a reminder to visit the website for a free technique to develop self-trust and intuition.

Takeaways
- Lion's Mane extract can have a profound impact on brain health, improving mental stamina, focus, and memory.
- Matching and understanding emotional frequencies can help in effectively communicating and guiding others.
- Living a liberated life means being authentic, uninhibited by societal constructs, and showing up as your true self.
- Focus is a key element in achieving goals and creating success in various areas of life.
- Philosophy can play a significant role in personal development and transformation. 
- Lion's Mane mushroom can improve cognitive function, boost creativity, and enhance memory.
- Lion's Mane may have potential health benefits, such as reducing inflammation and supporting gut health.
-To incorporate Lion's Mane into your routine, you can try Lion's Mane extract, capsules, or adding it to your coffee or tea.

Visit https://lionsmaneextracts.com/ to unlock mental clarity now!

Get 25% off of your order when you use promo code: zenstoic 

Key Takeaways:
- Emotional debt is the accumulation of past unprocessed negative emotions, traumas, and conflicts that we carry with us.
- Processing emotions is essential to free ourselves from emotional debt and live a liberated life.
- The three pillars of liberation are innate wisdom, inspired action, and intentional focus.
- Innate wisdom allows us to access our true potential and build a relationship with our unconscious mind.
- Inspired action involves taking actions that align with our innate wisdom and bring meaning and fulfillment.
- Intentional focus helps us train our minds to focus on what truly matters and create a life of purpose.
- Living an intentional life with Zen Stoic philosophy can lead to unshakable inner peace and a liberated life.

In this candid episode, Victor and Heather share the pillars of their relationship - embracing each other's quirks, frequent sincere compliments, always feeling safe to express themselves openly and honestly.

They discuss common myths, like needing to "compromise" or tolerate annoyances. Instead they argue relationships should feel fun, easy and make you feel cherished.

Heather also shares parenting tips on helping kids build confidence and self-trust. Learn the keys to co-creating lasting, conscious connections free of drama or sparring. A refreshing talk breaking stereotypes about what makes love last over time.

Head to http://LiberationCoachingAcademy.com to learn more about Zen Stoicism and the Sovereign Awareness technique. 

These four truths provide a framework for understanding the root of human suffering and the pathway to liberation.

We begin by telling the iconic story of the Buddha's own journey - from a sheltered prince who knew none of the suffering in the world, to his confrontation with sickness, old age and death outside his palace walls. The trauma of these encounters motived Siddhartha Gautama to renounce his royal ties and seek understanding. After taking asceticism to its extremes then realizing enlightenment was not found there either, he meditated under the Bodhi tree and awakened.

The Buddha realized that rather than the extremes of indulgence or deprivation, the middle way would lead to the end of suffering. This wisdom was encapsulated into the Four Noble Truths.

The First Noble Truth declares that suffering exists and is part of our human experience due to impermanence and our fragile mortal nature. Our attempts to make things permanent actually causes more pain.

The Second Noble Truth dives deeper - revealing that the root of suffering is attachment. Clinging to thoughts, ideas, identities and beliefs is what torments us when loss and change occurs.

The Third Noble Truth offers hope - cessation of suffering IS possible by letting go of attachments. When we release our grip, we experience the blissful state of nirvana, which means “blowing out” like a candle.

The Fourth Noble Truth maps out the Eightfold Path, the Buddha’s recommended path to enlightenment. We also introduce an alternative framework called The Three Pillars of Liberation.

Drinking from the wisdom of millennia, this profound teaching offers to liberate us in the midst of daily troubles that disrupt our peace. The Four Noble Truths diagnose the core human quandary, and prescribe a way out of unnecessary misery and into joy.

Head over to http://LiberationCoachingAcademy.com to check out more about Zen Stoicism and learn about our trainings. 

Dive deep into the intricacies of parts, diagnosis, perception, personal sovereignty, and the unconscious drivers beneath surface behaviors. Discover the drama triangle and how to transcend victimhood. Explore the real role of the oft-maligned ego and how to create internal alignment. Learn about emotional conflicts encoded in illness and keys to self-healing.

Keith and Ariel also share essential advice for coaches and facilitators avoiding blind spots on their own journey, before guiding others. Finally, hear their embodied definitions of a liberated life, rooted in radical personal accountability. Take away profound insights and practical tools for wholeness.

If you're interested in the upcoming training, check out http://LiberationCoachingAcademy.com 

Central to this journey is reclaiming your innate power and sovereignty rather than "matrix hijacking" - looking externally to others' stories or beliefs about who you should be. Take full responsibility for everything happening in your life without blaming circumstances, other people, or limiting self-beliefs. This ownership is the seed of change.

Victor then dives deep into the wisdom around perception and how your subjective lens shapes your entire reality.

Absorb the difficult lesson that your greatest emotional triggers reflect unresolved aspects within yourself. Each perceived obstacle and adversary shows where you aren't yet free. Overcoming rather than being defined by hardships redefines your core identity.

The final principle revealed is integration of presence into daily living - not using spirituality to escape physical reality but to infuse your mundane with mystical wonder. Flow between all aspects of worldly and otherworldly pursuits in energetic harmony.

The Sovereign Awareness technique was created to build the self-trust and intuitive decision-making crucial for inner peace. Your liberation catalyzes the collective's. Spread these universal truths after beginning your personal journey within. No doctrine or external philosophizing - however helpful and well-intended - replaces your direct experience of radical empowerment and peace.

Top takeaways from this episode: 

1. Unshakable inner peace allows you to stay centered amidst chaos and be a source of reassurance for others.
2. Liberation involves freeing yourself from negative self-talk, sabotage, and inauthentic living.
3. The "matrix hijack" refers to looking externally for validation rather than trusting your internal guidance.
4. Reclaim your sovereignty by taking responsibility rather than blaming circumstances, others, or your own limiting beliefs.
5. Your perceptions form your reality - "you see yourself in all things and beings."
6. Obstacles show where you aren't yet free; overcoming them redefines who you are.
7. Integrate spirituality into everyday life rather than seeing them as separate endeavors.
8. Begin by using the Sovereign Awareness technique to build self-trust and intuition.
9. Spread timeless wisdom to help create more liberation in the world.
10. True peace, freedom, and meaning can only be self-discovered, starting with self-trust.

Don’t forget to like and subscribe! 

He discusses common attachments to thoughts that reality "should be" different, and how these cause suffering regardless of external progress made. Learn how embracing "what is" through methods like Byron Katie's can detach judgement and return us to peace.

Victor then shares the specific morning rituals, stretching, reading and breathing practices that center him daily. He also explains the powerful story of the Rainmaker which drove home the importance of being anchored in your core.

If you enjoyed the podcast, give it a review on your favorite podcast player! 

Stay tuned for Season 2 coming in January 2024!

Connect with Victor on instagram at victor.zenstoic 

Timestamps:

0:00 - Introduction
2:00 - Suffering is caused by attachment to thoughts
3:00 - Comparing reality to unrealistic expectations causes suffering

4:00 - Method for detaching judgments through self-inquiry
6:00 - Asking what activities make me feel centered

8:00 - The story of the Rainmaker (not timestamped)
10:00 - Realizing the importance of being centered

12:00 - Starting my day grounded with sunlight and dogs
13:00 - Daily full-body stretching while listening to books/philosophy

15:00 - Sitting still for 10 mins doing deep belly breaths
16:00 - Strength training uncomfortable positions
18:00 - Eating the foods that actually energize me
20:00 - Doing creative work and having great conversations

Movement, sunshine, nature, and community are all at the center of a great morning routine. 

If you want to hear more, check Victor out on YouTube or Instagram at Victor.ZenStoic 

Email Victor@zenstoic.com with any feedback on the show and leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform! 

In this conversation, Victor and Jeff talk about the difference between being a coach and teaching, what it means to be an anchored human, and how to use breath work to regulate your central nervous system. 

Links To Jeff's Resources: 
https://bruteforcetraining.com
https://www.instagram.com/mindset06actual/

Subscribe to the channel and leave us a review on your favorite podcast app! 

0:00 - Intro
3:00 - The difference between coaching and teaching. 
8:00 - How to do coaching calls 
13:00 - The Anchored Human 
14:30 - Why we externalize our anchors 
18:00 - How to regulate your central nervous system through breath.
21:30 - Don’t label emotions before age 7. 
30:00 - Intentions vs Delusions 
33:00 - Where are you not safe? 
38:00 - Intentional breathing changes everything 
46:00 - 25 Minutes a day of breathing practice. 
52:00 - The 3 traits of all winners 
57:00 - Connect with Jeff 
1:02:00 - What does it mean to live a liberated life?

To get access to the Zen Stoic Meditation, DM me on Instagram at https://instagram.com/victor.zenstoic

Nonviolent Communication (NVC), developed by psychologist Marshall B. Rosenberg, is a communication and conflict resolution framework designed to foster empathy, understanding, and peaceful dialogue in various interpersonal and social contexts. Here's a summary of its key principles and components:

Four-Step Process:

Observation: NVC encourages people to describe observable actions or situations without judgment. This step promotes clarity in communication by avoiding vague or evaluative language.
Feeling: Participants are encouraged to express their emotions in response to the observed situation. Identifying and sharing one's feelings helps create a connection between individuals.
Need: NVC emphasizes the importance of recognizing the underlying human needs that drive our feelings and actions. Identifying these needs helps to build empathy and understanding.
Request: In the final step, individuals can make specific, actionable requests to meet their needs. These requests should be clear, positive, and free from demands or coercion.
Empathy: NVC places a strong emphasis on active listening and empathetic communication. It involves truly hearing and understanding another person's feelings and needs without judgment. This process helps foster trust and mutual respect.

Avoiding Judgment and Blame: NVC discourages the use of judgmental or accusatory language, as it can lead to defensiveness and conflict. Instead, it promotes non-blaming and non-shaming communication.

Self-Expression: NVC encourages individuals to honestly and openly express themselves. It promotes self-awareness and self-responsibility for one's feelings and needs.

Conflict Resolution: NVC is often used as a tool for resolving conflicts by facilitating communication that addresses underlying needs and promotes mutually satisfying solutions.

Connection and Understanding: The primary goal of NVC is to create a connection between individuals by fostering understanding, empathy, and cooperation. It aims to build bridges between people rather than walls.

Application: Nonviolent Communication can be applied in a wide range of contexts, including personal relationships, workplaces, community settings, and even international diplomacy. It offers a way to transform adversarial and unproductive communication into more harmonious and productive interactions.

In summary, Nonviolent Communication is a communication framework that prioritizes empathy, understanding, and peaceful resolution of conflicts. It seeks to replace judgmental language with clear, non-blaming, and emotionally honest communication while addressing the core human needs that underlie our feelings and actions. By promoting these principles, NVC aims to create stronger connections and more effective problem-solving in various aspects of life.

If you enjoyed the episode, leave a like, subscribe, and review! 

DM me on Instagram at victor.zenstoic to get the Sovereign Dream Meditation.

Connect with me on Instagram at https://instagram.com/victor.zenstoic

Dr. Leonette is the founder and clinic director at Enliven Wellness, a multi-doctor chiropractic, acupuncture and functional healing center. He was twice been awarded Chiropractor of the Year by The Masters Circle Global. He founded and oversees Enliven Occupational Health, a state of the art occupational health and pre-employment testing center and safety device distributor. His most recent endeavor, Alpha Emerged, focuses on executive health coaching centered around optimizing your genetic expression. 

He was a certified investigator with U.S. Food and Drug Administration in medical devices, pharmaceuticals, foods and biologics. As a member of the International Device Cadre, he inspected high level medical device production facilities throughout Europe and Asia.

He loves adventures and travels frequently. He has hiked in the Black Forest, climbed glaciers in Iceland, scuba dived in the Caribbean, and been a chiropractic missionary in Vietnam and Dominican Republic. He has been a guest speaker a multiple universities, businesses and organizations throughout the US. 

0:00 - Introduction
3:05 - Neuro Development
8:08 - How reflex and response effect thought
13:38 - Suppressed emotion can become physical pain
25:56 -  How your emotions affect your body
32:07 - Listen to your body
37:10 - How to Find Clarity in breathing
41:12 - We are products of our environment
57:00 - There is something to learn from everyone

Philosophy is a tool that allows us to craft our character. Our job to to look honestly at ourselves, ask the hard questions, and change what doesn't serve us. 

These are the 8 attributes of the rational soul. 

Connect with me on Instagram at https://instagram.com/victor.zenstoic

DM me the word "LIBERATION" to get the free Sovereign Dream Meditation.

Thanks for listening. Leave a like and subscribe if you enjoyed the episode!

Kevin is a relationship coach, group facilitator, and host of The Heartbeat Podcast. 

You can find Kevin's work at www.heartguy.com

Timestamps: 

0:00 - Group coaching 

10:00 - Following your intuition - 

17:00 - What is your body saying? 

22:00 - Building a relationship with yourself. 

25:00 - The different parts of you. 

28:00 - Relationships are mirrors. 

34:00 - Healing the resistance. 

42:00 - Mid Life Crises 

We also talk about processing emotions authentically, dropping masks of insincerity, and setting meaningful goals. By embracing life in its entirety, we align with nature, experience harmony, and uncover personal freedom. 

If you liked this podcast, leave us a review on your favorite podcast player and subscribe to the YouTube channel! 

Connect with me on Instagram at https://instagram.com/victor.zenstoic to get the sovereign dream meditation! 

Timestamps: 

0:00 - Introduction 

1:15 - 1. Becoming disgruntled is an internal reflection 

6:15 - 2. Causing others harm. 

11:08 - 3. When we’re overpowered by our emotions 
17:00 - 4. Wearing a mask 

21:52 - 5. Moving without purpose 

Marcus Aurelius Anderson is a Bestselling Author, TEDx Speaker and International Keynote
Speaker, Mindset Coach to Leaders, CEOʼs and entrepreneurs and host of the top rated Acta Non
Verba Podcast.

If you want to hear more from Marcus, subscribe to his podcast Acta Non Verba or connect with him on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/marcusaureliusanderson/

Connect with Victor on Instagram at https://instagram.com/victor.zenstoic/

If you got value out of this episode, leave us a review on your favorite podcast player. 

0:00 - About Marcus Aurelius Anderson
1:15 - Intro / Meet Marcus
1:52 - The Gift of Adversity
7:10 - No excuses/ The Power of Commitment
13:49 - Why You should push through Adversity
17:15 - The Paths in Front of you
20:20 - How to Deal with Adversity
31:39 - How to keep your true north
37:40 - Having the Courage to overcome Adversity
41:08 - Resistance and Procrastination
47:05 - How Gratitude can Change your perception
56:01 - Perception is Everything
1:09:05 - How to be Grateful and change your perception.

It's not a lack of resources, it's a lack of resourcefulness that keeps people from their goals. When we give away our power, it's impossible to achieve what we set out to do. But if we remember that we are at cause for a life, you're in a great place to begin the PATH process.

Help me grow the podcast by commenting and subscribing! 

Connect with me on Instagram at https://instagram.com/victor.zenstoic 

0:00 - How to achieve your goals 
1:30 - Giving away your power. 
6:00 - The PATH strategy

What does it mean to find your purpose and how do we know if we’ve found it? There are many ways to explain purpose and how we come across it. We need to first start with what we love to do and what we would do even if no one paid us to do it. 

Connect with me on Instagram at https://instagram.com/victor.zenstoic

Timestamps:
0:00 - What does it mean to be a good human? 
1:00 - Purpose changes over time. 
5:30 - The different categories of purpose 
8:00 - Ikigai - 
11:00 - Start with “What Do I Love?” 
18:46 - DM me “Liberation” on Instagram to get started.

AJ is an Entrepreneur,  trained hypnotherapist, and all around explorer of life and I always enjoy getting to spend time with him.

If you want to join AJ in Norway this October, you can apply for the trip at https://www.awakentheviking.com

If you want to hear the free sovereign dream meditation, dm me the word "Liberation" on Instagram at https://instagram.com/victor.zenstoic

Subscribe for more Zen Stoic content! 

Connect with me on social: 
Instagram: https://instagram.com/victor.zenstoic 
Tik Tok: ZenStoicPath 

#stoicism #zen #gratitude #philosophy

Scott Jackson is a Master Coach that is highly effective at working with executives and companies to overcome obstacles to personal and organizational success. He is excellent at assisting managers to hire the right people for the right positions. 

If you want to train with Scott and I, go to https://liberated-life.typeform.com/to/vUwHjlDd

Follow me on Instagram at https://instagram.com/victor.zenstoic

00:00:00 - Introduction, 
00:01:48 - Defining NLP, 
00:06:28 - Focus on What You Want, 
00:10:36 - Attachment vs. Trust, 
00:15:42 - The Power of Language, 
00:14:59 - Perception as Projection, 
00:17:20 - Trusting Internal Decisions, 
00:20:15 - Making an Impact, 
00:22:53 - Money as a Symbol of Value, 
00:28:54 - The Birth of Mandorla, 
00:29:44 - Healing the Masculine Wound, 
00:36:08 - The Mandorla Mystery School, 
00:39:12 - Behavioral Flexibility and Respectful Communication, 
00:41:28 - The Power of Language and Disarming Conversations, 
00:42:34 - The Importance of Healing and Ascension, 
00:43:16 - Transhumanism and Intentionality, 
00:45:07 - Intention vs Mechanism, 
00:50:25 - You Are Not Your Roles, 
00:56:22 - Where to Find Scott Jackson's Work, 
00:57:06 - Signing Up for Mendorla Ranch, 
00:58:17 - Living a Liberated Life, 
00:59:06 - Scott Jackson on Embracing Pain and Negative Emotions,

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Wherever our attention goes will dictate our direction. The more focus and attention we put into moving in a particular direction, the more we unconsciously move in that direction. Our attention gets hooked in multiple different directions and whichever direction we engage in most will communicate unconsciously what is most important to us.

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In Buddhism, the precursor to the path of enlightenment exists in The 5 Precepts. The 5 Precepts help one to reconcile their own morality and dissipate disturbances in their soul, caused by feelings of regret and tension. The precepts are not commandments, rules, or laws laid down by some cosmic authority. Rather, the precepts are vows, or ways of being that act as a foundation towards one’s liberation. There is an inherent morality that exists within human nature. Both Stoicism and Buddhism recognize this. Ignoring or violating the nature of our morality will thus make it impossible to create any sense of inner peace.

The precepts contain both passive and active elements that prime one’s conduct in the world. The typical translations imply the passive side, but just as important is the active side to each. Right and wrong are much of the time, seen as very subjective. However in the spirit of the precepts, “right” is not achieved by the mere absence of wrong. To do right requires us to engage in both the passive and the active elements of our precepts. Simultaneously, only engaging in (or even obsessing about) the active elements of each precept does not absolve one of ignoring the passive side. Both must be taken into consideration in one’s practice. It is about finding a middle way, where both the active and the passive exist in a non-dualistic harmony.  

In Zen Stoic philosophy we refer to these not as precepts, but rather as The 5 Vows of Inspired Action. Dr. Wayne Dyer refers to the term "inspired" as being in spirit because when you are inspired you are living in line with your spirit, your true nature. Marcus Aurelius refers to acting in service of the common good many times in the book, Meditations because he realized that humans (being social animals) were made to cooperate with one another and that we are all interconnected. This is our nature, we survive and thrive because of our ability to cooperate. Thus when action is "inspired" is not only serves the good of the individual but also the good of the collective because it embodies the spirit of our true nature. All actions should be aimed at increasing choice, wholeness, and sovereignty of the self and others.

Key Takeaways:

• Lead with Love

• Be The Source of What You Seek To Experience

• Direct Your Passion Meaningfully 

• Communicate Sincerely and Expansively

• Choose To Be Here Now

Brandon Wehn is a life coach, focusing on interpersonal relationships and communication skills. Having been raised by a spiritual direction counselor, coaching came naturally and he began a professional career as a coach in 2015. He has worked with hundreds of individuals, helping to improve their quality of life; starting with how they relate to themselves and working outward to all the relationships in their lives. After spending six years traveling the world with no more than a small backpack, he settled in Austin, TX.

Jessie Torres is a certified Master Peak Performance Coach and Life strategist, with additional masters certifications in Meditation, HeartMath Trainer, Reiki Practitioner and Domestic Violence Counselor. She has coached thousands of high performance people from all walks of life and various parts of the world that have achieved success and the highest level of fulfillment.

 Jessie is Founder of Fierce Grace Transformation, a course and coaching program that helps high performing entrepreneurs and Leaders, achieve passion, purpose and impact while, growing their businesses and maximizing their results in all areas of their world so that they can make not only their life extraordinary, but they also have a passion and conviction to love it forward and create impact in the world. She is driven to discover the truth of the client’s deepest potential and unlock the limitless opportunities that leave others in the dark ages! Bringing all levels of mindset, energy and strategy with an authentic, client driven approach.

 Jessie’s journey was one filled with child abuse, the loss of a brother to murder, and a marriage that left her (as she describes) completely apathetic, emotionless, and spiritually dead. This left her living a life filled with fear, limitation and the darkness of shame every single day.

 She turned her suffering and pain into purpose and passion, and now she helps men and women all over the world transform their narrative from "victim" to "victor", and find the courage to take the small steps they need and peel back the layers of fear, to realize their full potential, and live the big life of their dreams.

 With this as her driving force, She now lives a committed life of passion and purpose. She will do all she can to create the biggest impact in turning trauma to triumph and shifting humanity forever. 

https://unshakeablelife.com/

After a successful 20 year career as a Navy SEAL and SEAL Commander, Mark was hired by
the Navy to create a nationwide coaching and leadership program for the SEALs. The bold goal
of this program was to give the SEALs the best leadership and mental-management tools in the
world – to help them forge unbeatable SEAL teams that achieve mission success in the most
stressful, challenging environments on earth.

Divine’s leadership and coaching program for the SEALs was so effective that it’s now being
used outside of the Navy by top CEOs, Fortune 100 companies, USA Olympics, elite
universities, major league sports franchises, celebrities, and successful individuals from all over
the world.

Mark Divine is the author of 5 best-selling books, including his latest book Staring Down The
Wolf: 7 Leadership Commitments That Forge Elite Teams. He hosts a #1-ranked podcast on
iTunes (Mark Divine’s Unbeatable Mind) and he is the founder of 5 successful companies:
Unbeatable Mind, SEALFIT, NavySEALs.com, USCrossFit, and the award winning Coronado
Brewing Company in California.

Divine believes that any individual, team, or company can unlock 20X performance with the right
tools and training. His company, Unbeatable Mind, helps millions of people achieve their full
potential in life and business through their free training resources and advanced training
programs for leaders, corporate teams, coaching professionals, and high-achieving individuals.

As a philanthropist, Mark Divine founded the Courage Foundation to help our wounded
Veterans who are suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress (PTS). Recently Divine and his Courage
Foundation team set a world record by completing over 22 million burpees to raise awareness,
support, and funding for our Veteran heroes.

She is the co-founder of Richer Every Day, with her partner Mike Dillard, a course and coaching program that helps high performing entrepreneurs and employees reach new levels of success by re-training their brain's neurochemistry and subconscious programming when it comes to money and abundance. 

Michelle has coached over a thousand clients to improve their lives by observing their thought processes and teaching a simple framework that can be used in all areas of life. Michelle teaches that in order to improve your life, you must improve the quality of your thinking. 

Go to RicherEveryDay.com to learn more about the course and community.

In this episode Stuart shares profound stories of his work over the last 50 years. He's helped people from all walks of life transform their lives through Admiration Therapy with over 40,000 hours of experience. He's had the honor of working with leaders of countries and even had the opportunity to work with the Dalai Lama!

This episode is packed with some truly profound wisdom! Enjoy!

In order to change our lives for the better, we need three things: wisdom, action, and focus. In this episode I talk about how each of these three pillars can help us achieve our goals and create the life we want to live. 

This is all about the art of letting go and learning to be comfortable in the paradoxes of life.

Detachment is one of the most important concepts when it comes to freeing yourself from suffering. 

We explore the 5 ways the soul degrades itself (and how to avoid them) according to the teachings of Marcus Aurelius. 

In this special series we explore the Zen Stoic rendition of, The 4 Noble Truths of Buddhism. 

I explore how to transcend suffering and use it to fuel our goals. 

Discover how to deal with frustration, ego, and impermanence  understand the importance suffering plays in the role of in achieving our dreams.

As Epictetus once said "To me all omens are lucky, if I will. For whichever of these things happens, it is in my control to derive advantage from it."

Click The Link Below To Get Access To Our “3 Day Micro Meditation Journey” 
https://www.liberation.so/lp/micro-meditations-series

It's easy to feel lost and overwhelmed when looking for answers. But the Stoics believed that everything we go through in life is an opportunity for growth and learning. In this episode, I'll share some of the wisdom of Marcus Aurelius and the true meaning of "the obstacle is the way" and why it's crucial for our growth. I explain how to use challenges and obstacles to create freedom and liberation in your life. 

This episode is perfect for anyone who wants to learn more about using words in a positive way!

Click the link below to join the Liberated Life Community:
https://community.liberation.so/s/community/

Click The Link Below To Get Access To Our “3 Day Micro Meditation Journey” 
https://www.liberation.so/lp/micro-meditations-series

In this episode, I talk about how to achieve inner peace through total conviction in your choices - no matter what life throws your way.

Click the link below to join The Unshakeable Goal Setting Workshop
https://community.liberation.so/c/unshakeable-goal-setting/day-3-live-unshakeable-goal-setting-workshop

That's why I've started practicing the warrior mindset – Zen Stoic Philosophy shows us how to find peace in the face of adversity.

In this episode I'll discuss how to become the "warrior in the garden" and share some tips on how you can start living a liberated life with unshakeable inner peace.

Click The Link Below To Join The Unshakeable Goal Setting
https://community.liberation.so/c/unshakeable-goal-setting/day-2-live-unshakeable-goal-setting-workshop

Click Below To Join Our Unshakeable Goal Setting Workshop:
https://community.liberation.so/c/unshakeable-goal-setting/workshop-unshakeable-goal-setting-c9994b

You'll discover the power of ego and how to use it for your own benefit. So if you're interested in living a more authentic life, make sure to check out this episode!

• Have you ever been told that your ego is your enemy? Or been accused of having too much of an ego?
• So many spiritual teachers/ influencers through the years attempt to validate the efficacy of their teachings through the lack of their ego or claiming that they do not have an ego or that their teachings can help you rid yourself of your ego.
• Spiritual egotism is the attempt to use what is of a higher nature to fulfill the desires of that of a lower nature. To think you are somehow more spiritual or awakened than another person because of what you practice, is in itself self diminishing as anything spiritual.
• The ego is important and necessary to have an individual experience. You couldn’t say, “I’ve gotten rid of my ego” without an ego. “I” would be a meaningless concept without the ego. The ego or “I” is merely a measuring of your individual conscious experience. It is about as real as the equator or the earth. The equator is real in the sense of having a way to divide the hemispheres of the earth, but it doesn’t physically exist as a line we can see, it exists through social institution, as an agreement we share to indicate the midpoint of the earth’s northern and southern hemispheres. This doesn’t mean it is wrong or invalid. The ego is the same in the sense that it is just a word, a symbol to describe an experience.
• When you are operating through the “ego” or have “too much ego” it simply means you are over invested in the measuring device of individual experience rather than the experience itself as a whole. Similar to mistaking the dinner menu for nourishment or money for wealth.

We turn to ancient Stoic philosopher, Epictetus about how to grow in spite of difficulty. If you're looking for some wisdom that will help you stick to your goals, then you don't want to miss this!

• “Defeat is a state of mind; no one is very defeated until defeat has been accepted as a reality." - Bruce Lee
• The present moment is the convergence point where everything can change. The past is a memory and the future is just speculation. 
• Concluding what something will mean is a product of the mind, it is not reality. Things can always change.
• We think bringing closure to reality makes us feel safe through knowing what will be, but the reality is, that it blinds us. The way towards truly knowing is first acknowledging that you don't with full embrace.

We discuss how to live in a meditative state through practicing the 3 components of the Meditation/Concentration Aggregate: Integral Effort, Integral Awareness, and Integral Concentration.

**Integral Effort:** Here we discuss how to find the sweet spot of effort. Following the stereotypical motivational advice of going 110% all the time is a trap!

It seems as though we’ve become obsessed with speed and the idea of “getting there”

Whether it’s the dream of finally becoming successful, meeting the love of your life, reaching financial freedom, getting your Instagram model body

Have you ever noticed though, the faster you want something to happen, the longer it feels and further away it feels?

**Integral Awareness:** Here we discuss how to ACTUALLY feel our emotions rather than finding creative and righteous ways to avoid them. We also go into how to use our pain as a guide to healing our traumas and creating breakthroughs.

The reality is that pain is a great teacher. The real problem to solve is “what is the pain trying to teach me.”

What if your pain held a sacred message for you? One that would set you free if you were able to fully acknowledge it. Imagine what the world would be like if you were able to welcome pain and negative emotion with presence and calm, knowing that it had something to share with you.

**Integral Concentration:** Here we discuss how to live in a state of flow by truly living in the present moment. 

 Integral Action: This is related to how we conduct ourselves in the world and with others in a manner that is optimal for our liberation. Living a life with a sense of morality that is oriented around our humanity is key to aligning with our nature, without creating excessive or unnecessary suffering.

Integral Speech: This is related to how we express and communicate with ourselves and others. Words are our symbols for reality. We filter everything through our word choice. How we speak will either enhance or diminish our ability to live a liberated life.

Integral Livelihood: This is related to how we earn our living. We all need to accumulate food, resources, and shelter to live. HOW we do this matters. Are you earning your living in a way that supports or conflicts with your own liberation? 

This episode covers the Wisdom Aggregate which contains 2 components: Integral View and Integral Intention. We discuss how to have a complete view of life, self, and circumstance. Oftentimes we suffer because we are viewing life with a limited view, and having an Integral View solves this. 

In addition to having an Integral View, we also break down how to live with Integral Intention. From a Zen Stoic perspective, one of the most crucial elements between ourselves and our inner peace is having delusional intentions in life. No matter how much we do and say the “right” things, we can never hide our own intentions from ourselves, and in this episode, we discuss exactly how to reconcile our own intentions and create inner peace. We dive deep into The 4 Intentions and 4 Delusions of Zen Stoic Philosophy and how to apply them in your own life.

Highlights:

• “There are things we KNOW and things we DON’T KNOW. What you do not know is an opportunity for understanding and curiosity.”
• “Humans are mortal. Remember your own mortality. It is what gives life meaning. It is what gives every individual a sense of priority in which to focus attention.”
• “At times the path may become foggy or riddled with obstructions. Absent the path, this is the path. The path is always now. The path is where the present moment and free will meet.”

Reference Links:
- Alan Watts - Buddha The Man Who Woke Up: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWAqyFl-QDM&list=PLUtpVD4eyUYe47RpZqyo-6IWrimlMAUMK&index=5](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWAqyFl-QDM&list=PLUtpVD4eyUYe47RpZqyo-6IWrimlMAUMK&index=5)

- Alan Watts The Real Eightfold Path: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vi0axKhWgv0&list=PLUtpVD4eyUYe47RpZqyo-6IWrimlMAUMK&index=4](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vi0axKhWgv0&list=PLUtpVD4eyUYe47RpZqyo-6IWrimlMAUMK&index=4)

- The Noble Eightfold Path: [https://www.existentialbuddhist.com/tag/noble-eightfold-path/](https://www.existentialbuddhist.com/tag/noble-eightfold-path/)

- Fundamentals of Buddhism: The 4 Noble Truths: [https://buddho.org/buddhism/#the-truth-of-the-way-that-lead-to-cessation](https://buddho.org/buddhism/#the-truth-of-the-way-that-lead-to-cessation)

This episode we discuss championing the journey of the individual by first embracing the flaws and imperfections of our lives. Includes turning the pain of our past into something beautiful that contributes to the development of our character as well as discovering how to lift the limits of our identity that were the basis of much of our pain in the first place. 

I discuss methods of how you can train yourself to become a “warrior in the garden,” so that you can be prepared for the inevitable storms and battles life will bring and simultaneously enjoy  your highest ideals and those that you love.

References:
Kintsugi: The Centuries-Old Art of Repairing Broken Pottery with Gold: https://mymodernmet.com/kintsugi-kintsukuroi/ 
EASTERN PHILOSOPHY - Kintsugi: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBUTQkaSSTY
From Broken To Beautiful: The Power of Kintsugi: https://concreteunicorn.com/blogs/journal/from-broken-to-beautiful-the-power-of-kintsugi
Jordan Peterson: 5 Hours for the NEXT 50 Years of Your LIFE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8e_dvbXoCQ&t=4500s
Alan Watts - Buddha The Man Who Woke Up: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWAqyFl-QDM&list=PLUtpVD4eyUYe47RpZqyo-6IWrimlMAUMK&index=5
Alan Watts The Real Eightfold Path: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vi0axKhWgv0&list=PLUtpVD4eyUYe47RpZqyo-6IWrimlMAUMK&index=4

• “We are a meaning-seeking species. We tend to process events in light of what they mean to us. We make a value judgment: Is it good or bad in the context of my life? And it is a human habit to infer deliberate intention to events in self-referential ways.” - Ralph Lewis
• “Our guilt festers and turns into shame. It becomes something horrifying and gross and must be concealed and defended from anyone who would otherwise expose it. And it’s this hiding that ultimately hurts us. Because what this hiding looks like in real life is a deflection of responsibility. It looks like passive aggression. It looks like manipulation and unwillingness to trust. It corrodes and poisons our relationships and destroys our ambitions. And as any addict will tell you, overwhelming amounts of shame can slowly murder us from the inside-out." - Mark Manson
• “You (hopefully) don’t go around sleeping with your friends’ partners and shitting in supermarket aisles because you fear social punishment. And that is a healthy fear—that threat of feeling ashamed keeps you, your genitals, and your bowels in check. While shame functions to keep you from doing stupid or awful things, guilt similarly motivates us to right our wrongs. When we feel guilty about something, we often set out to make it right. We apologize and in some cases, we offer ways to fix it. This feels bad. But this is also healthy. Expressing guilt for our transgressions and setting a course of corrective action shows others that:

1. We know the rules and we know we broke them, and
2. We care about others in the group enough to try to fix things.
In short, shame and guilt solve a big problem inherent to living in larger social groups: they help regulate the behavior of the entire group at the level of the individual." -Mark Manson

Key Takeaways:

• Guilt often can arise from making promises we know we cannot keep just to appease someone.
• It is our own guilt that haunts our minds and makes us seek out confirmation in our environment.

References:

• Banishing A Ghost: https://truecenterpublishing.com/zenstory/ghost.html
• Coming to Terms With Coincidence: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/articles/202002/coming-terms-coincidence
• The Best Way to Resolve Your Shame: https://markmanson.net/shame

• "All the difficulties you have in zazen should not take place outside your mind. Your efforts should be kept within your mind. In other words you have to accept the difficulty as not being other than what you are." -Shunryu Suzuki Roshi
• “Dogen Zenji was enlightened when he heard his master strike and say to the disciple sitting next to Dogen, "What are you doing? You have to make a hard effort. What are you doing?" That effort is Zen. That effort is to observe the precepts. If we make our best effort on each moment with confidence, that is enlightenment. When you ask whether your way is perfect or not, there is an insidious idea of self. When you do your best to observe the precepts, to practice Zen, within the Big Mind then there is enlightenment. There is no special way to attain enlightenment. Enlightenment is not some certain stage. Enlightenment is everywhere. Wherever you are, enlightenment is there. Whatever you do with your best effort, enlightenment follows. This is very important for our Zen practice and for our everyday life. We should make our best effort in our everyday life as well as in practice of Zen.” -Shunryu Suzuki Roshi
• “In today’s standard, hustle culture can be defined as the state of overworking to the point where it becomes a lifestyle.” -Afrina Arfa

Key Takeaways:

• Imagine a what your day would look like in flow. Would it be all work and no play, or all play and no work? You’ll find the answer is neither. There is a harmony between the two that occurs when you’re in flow. A harmony between purpose driven thinking, and a purposeless ease of just being. 
• If you swing the pendulum towards all things being purposeful and productive, you’ll fall prey to overworking or overtraining. If you swing the pendulum towards all things being pleasurable and fun, you’ll eventually run into the existential crisis of meaninglessness. Aim at the sweet spot that respects the value of both in your life.
• Too much of a challenge leads to perfectionism and fear of failure. To easy of a goal leads to apathy.
• Failure in a serious and rigid state, feels painful. It sucks to be wrong when you give too much significance to anything. When you fail in a playful state, you laugh, you learn, and you move on.

References:

• Joe Rogan - How To Workout Smarter: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fbCcWyYthQ&t=669s
• The Flow Model: https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/flow-model.htm
• Alan Watts - How To Create Without Forcing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhNRpiY1Lc0
• Right Effort in Practice: http://www.chzc.org/SR6.htm
• Why Are Young People Pretending to Love Work?: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/26/business/against-hustle-culture-rise-and-grind-tgim.html
• The Truth About the Hustle Culture: https://university.taylors.edu.my/en/campus-life/news-and-events/news/the-truth-about-the-hustle-culture.html
• Every Inspirational Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSYJ5Ehbo3U

Key Takeaways:
The 5 Precepts

1. Not to destroy life
2. Not to take what is not given
3. Abstain from exploiting my passions
4. Abstain from false speech
5. Abstaining from intoxication

• These are not commandments or moral law laid down by some kind of cosmic law giver.
• They are vows. They are not going to make you into a good person, they are not intended to be sentimental.
• Imagine what the world would look like if we put our best effort forth to observe and practice these precepts. What would it be like if we all adopted Marcus Aurelius’s attitude of fellowship?
• The best way for us to get things done and get the most out of our experiences is to work together. The foundation of the quality of our efforts towards meaningful ends begins with our own morality with how we treat ourselves and others.

References:

• Alan Watts: The Real Eightfold Path: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vi0axKhWgv0&t=684s
• Buddhism and Morality: the Five Precepts: https://buddho.org/buddhism-and-morality-the-five-precepts/?gclid=Cj0KCQjw5oiMBhDtARIsAJi0qk2dD52I2KLW7l7ZqKj0XY5EiJ9WHXmzjquusXDIcSCV7cW2fETpStYaAqEkEALw_wcB
• Rule 8: Tell The Truth or At Least Don't Lie | Jordan Peterson: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n53HmC1zxVc
• Marcus Aurelius on Overcoming Anger and Developing Empathy: https://donaldrobertson.name/2013/02/25/marcus-aurelius-on-overcoming-anger-and-developing-empathy/
• Right Effort in Practice: http://www.chzc.org/SR6.htm
• Marcus Aurelius’ Ten Commandments to Himself: https://medium.com/stoicism-philosophy-as-a-way-of-life/marcus-aurelius-ten-commandments-to-himself-681a775fae84
• Dave Chappelle: Chip The White Guy Part 2: https://youtu.be/MkQGRup3E8M

• "The goal of practice is always to keep your beginner’s mind. Our original mind includes everything within itself. It is always rich and sufficient with itself. You should not lose your self-sufficient state of mind. This does not mean a closed mind, but actually an empty mind and a ready mind. If your mind is empty, it is always ready for anything; it is open to everything." -Shunryu Suzuki
• “There is another way—a middle way, between too much and not enough confidence. This Goldilocks zone of confidence is where rational beliefs meet reality. It is fundamentally based on truth and good sense. It is built on beliefs that can be justified by evidence and honest self-examination. It steers between the perilous cliff of overconfidence and the quicksand of underconfidence. It is not always easy to find this narrow path; it takes honest self-reflection, level-headed analysis, and the courage to resist wishful thinking. This middle way is not the path to mediocrity—far from it. It is exceptionally rare to be well-calibrated in one’s confidence.[10] It requires that you understand yourself and what you are capable of achieving. It requires that you know your limitations and what opportunities are not worth pursuing. It requires that you act confidently based on what you know, even if it means taking a stand, making a bet, or speaking up for a viewpoint that is unpopular. But it also requires the willingness to consider the possibility that you are wrong, to listen to evidence, and to change your mind. This is a rare combination of courage and intellectual humility, which leads to actively open-minded thinking. It takes just the right amount of confidence.” -Don A. Moore
• “When you must write something to your friend, grammar will tell you what words you should write; but whether you should write or not, grammar will not tell you. And so it is with music as to musical sounds; but whether you should sing at the present time and play on the lute, or do neither, music will not tell you. What faculty then will tell you? That which contemplates both itself and all other things. The rational faculty; for this is the only faculty that we have received which examines itself, what it is, and what power it has, and what is the value of this gift and examines all other faculties” -Epictetus 

Key Takeaways:

• Being intentional requires the use of the rational faculty. 
• To point back to your own humanity and find inner peace requires intentionality and mindfulness     
• Closing ourselves off to learning intends a sense of control.
• Even in areas we have achieved mastery in, we are all beginners in an unexplored context. Seek understanding through curiosity. Control will close our minds and stunt our development.     
• It can be scary to examine your intentions for doing things, to let go of control, and be a beginner again. Have compassion for yourself, it’s okay to be scared and feel that way sometimes. Those who most realize their potential in any endeavor are those who always maintain a beginner's mind.

References:

• Overconfidence The mother of all biases: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/perfectly-confident/201801/overconfidence
• Concentration: http://users.rider.edu/~suler/zenstory/concentrate.html
• The Zen Archer: https://www.margiesmessages.com/zenarcher.html

• “The Buddha compares being afflicted with bodily pain to being struck by an arrow. Adding mental pain (aversion, displeasure, depression, or self-pity) to physical pain is like being hit by a second arrow. The wise person stops with the first arrow.” -Bhikku Bodhi
• “When we’re upset we tend to make events seem more harmful or threatening.   Cognitive therapists describe this as “catastrophizing”. The Stoics question how unbearable pain is by asking themselves whether they’re capable of enduring worse.” -Ryan Holiday
• “The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek.” - Joseph Campbell 
• “Your pain is a teacher. Resist it no more. Allow it to be the very catalyst that deepens your personal insight and wisdom. Let your pain become the focus of your meditation.” -Brian Thompson

Key Takeaways:

• Life long Zen meditation practitioners requires a significantly higher level of painful stimulation to feel the same amount of pain to age matched non meditators.
• Indifference may prevent excessive or unnecessary pain, but it is self love and compassion that allows you to recover from it

References:
- All In The Stance: https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/wellness/2003/08/26/all-in-the-stance/6a9f6db1-454c-401e-9af1-a0886b58fbeb/
- Stoicism and Pain Management: 4 Techniques Practiced By Marcus Aurelius: https://dailystoic.com/stoicism-and-pain-management/
- The Zen of Dealing with Chronic Pain: http://www.zenthinking.net/blog/the-zen-of-dealing-with-chronic-pain
- Pain Free: A Revolutionary Method for Stopping Chronic Pain: https://www.amazon.com/Pain-Free-Revolutionary-Stopping-Chronic/dp/0553379887/ref=pd_lpo_1?pd_rd_i=0553379887&psc=1
- Egoscue Method: https://www.egoscue.com/
- A Different Approach To Pain Management: Mindfulness Meditation | Fadel Zeidan | TEDxEmory: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLQJJDrbj6Q&t=292

• “For can you find me a single man who cares how he does what he does, and is interested, not in what he can get, but in the manner of his own actions? Who, when he is walking around, is interested in his own actions? Who, when he is deliberating, is interested in the deliberation itself, and not in getting what he is planning to get?” -Epictetus
• “Hear Epictetus: No one can rob us of our free choice. We must, says he, hit upon the true science of assent and in the sphere of our impulses pay good heed that they are with a “reserve clause”; that they have in view our neighbour’s welfare; that they are proportionate to a thing’s value. And we must abstain wholly from inordinate desire and show avoidance in none of the things that are not in our control.” - Marcus Aurelius
• “That which holds the mastery within us, when it is in accordance with Nature, is so disposed towards what befalls, that it can always adapt itself with ease to what is possible and granted us. For it is wedded to no definite material, but in the pursuit of its aims it works with a “reserve clause”; it converts into material for itself any obstacle that it meets with, just as fire when it gets the mastery of what is thrown upon it.” -Marcus Aurelius
• “Though a man may in some sort hinder my activity, yet on my own voluntary impulses and mental attitude no fetters can be put because of the “reserve clause” and their ability to adapt to circumstances. For everything that stands in the way of its activity is adapted and transmuted by the mind into furtherance of it, and that which is a check on this action is converted into a help to it, and that which is a hindrance in our path goes but to make it easier.” -Marcus Aurelius
• “If your impulse is without an “reserve clause”, failure at once becomes an evil to you as a rational creature. But once you accept that universal necessity, you cannot suffer harm nor even be thwarted. Indeed, nobody else can thwart the inner purposes of the mind. For it no fire can touch, nor steel, nor tyrant, nor public censure, nor anything whatsoever: a sphere once formed continues round and true.” -Marcus Aurelius
• “The cool thing about dopamine is that it’s very subjectively controlled. We can all learn to secrete dopamine in our brain in response to things in a purely subjective way. If you can reward the process, the brain circuits that are associated with building subjective rewards and dopamine get stronger.” — Andrew Huberman
• “A practicing Stoic would put all of his strength in reaching the goal — not because of the outcome, but because taking the action is the right thing to do, it goes well with Virtue. The outcome, for a Stoic, is in fact secondary. Which does not change the fact, that the outcome is also a preferred indifferent.” -Rafał Albiński
• “Most of our troubles are due to our passionate desire for and attachment to things that we misapprehend as enduring entities.” ~Dalai Lama
• “The “reserve clause” is a way of overcoming emotional pain and as the perfect Sage cannot, by definition, be happy (eudaimon) if he is distressed, then he must act at all times according to this rule.” -Donald Robertson

Key Takeaways:

• Drivers Seat Goals Vs. Passenger Seat Goals
• If you aim at nothing, you hit nothing.
• Embrace what is in your control by using it resourcefully, while simultaneously letting go of what you cannot control. 
• Pursue with sincerity of deriving your aims from within. 
• Approach with discipline in HOW you take your action. 
• Measure your success on intentionality not outcome. Keep your mind open by seeking understanding when things don’t go your way.

References:

• Donald Robertson- The Reserve Clause: https://donaldrobertson.name/2013/02/02/action-with-a-reserve-clause-in-marcus-aurelius/
• Stoic Philosophy Practice: The Reserve Clause Exercise: https://steemit.com/philosophy/@brado/stoic-philosophy-practice-the-reserve-clause-exercise
• Rethinking the Stoic Reserve Clause: https://medium.com/stoicism-philosophy-as-a-way-of-life/rethinking-the-reserve-clause-b03027cbb1df
• The Secret That High Performers Use to Accomplish Whatever They Want: https://medium.com/swlh/the-secret-that-high-performers-use-to-accomplish-whatever-they-want-9fa577c101bc
• Change Your BRAIN By Using These Hacks to Increase Your DOPAMINE | Dr. Andrew Huberman: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLORsLlcT48
• Letting Go of Attachment: From A to Zen: https://tinybuddha.com/blog/letting-go-of-attachment-from-a-to-zen/

•  “Feelings like disappointment, embarrassment, irritation, resentment, anger, jealousy, and fear, instead of being bad news, are actually very clear moments that teach us where it is that we’re holding back. They teach us to perk up and lean in when we feel we’d rather collapse and back away. They’re like messengers that show us with terrifying clarity, exactly where we’re stuck. This very moment is the perfect teacher, and lucky for us, it’s with us wherever we are.” -Pema Chodron
• “You can begin from your very weakness. That’s your strength. It’s not your big ego and your big will that is the strong thing here. It’s your it’s your sloppiness, it’s your weakness. It’s your foolish side that is your strong suit.” - Alan Watts
•  “The hostile attitude of conquering nature ignores the basic interdependence of all things and events—that the world beyond the skin is actually an extension of our own bodies—and will end in destroying the very environment from which we emerge and upon which our whole life” -Alan Watts
•  “What you resist persists.” -Carl Jung
• If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” -African Proverb

Key Takeaways:

• Pleasant emotion generated through delusion often will feel uneasy, contrived, or like you’re trying to talk yourself out of the agitation or discomfort the current feeling is creating. If this comes up, take a moment to reflect deeper.
• Pleasant emotions generated through intention feel effortless, balanced, and present. Often times when pointing in the direction of intention, you may not even acknowledge or even notice the feeling due to being present in the here and now.
• Look to your weaknesses and flaws. These are the parts of yourself that you attempt most to hide. Look to your anger, your sadness, your fears, your frustrations, the things you dislike most about yourself. What are these emotions really trying to tell you?

Zen Stoic Intentions and Delusions Episodes:

• Embrace vs. Resistance: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-zen-stoic-path/id1571381944?i=1000532944170
• Understanding vs. Control
• https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-zen-stoic-path/id1571381944?i=1000533054692
• Discipline vs. Expediency
• https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-zen-stoic-path/id1571381944?i=1000533815367
• Sincerity vs. Performance
• https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-zen-stoic-path/id1571381944?i=1000533951153

References:

• Jordan Peterson - The Story of Buddha: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycIAW0M2-NQ
• 101 Alan Watts Quotes: https://secularbuddhism.com/101-alan-watts-quotes/
•  The Enlightenment of The Buddha: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVKK-WVW2uw
• What We Resist Persists: http://www.shoshanashea.com/blog/2018/6/11/what-we-resist-persists
• Alan Watts -Waiting For Magic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ReD00p6IC8

• “When jarred, unavoidably, by circumstances, revert at once to yourself and don’t lose the rhythm more than you can help. You’ll have a better grasp of the harmony if you keep on going back to it.”
• “Not to feel exasperated, or defeated, or despondent because your days aren’t packed with wise and moral actions. But to get back up when you fail, to celebrate behaving like a human- however imperfectly- and fully embrace the pursuit that you’ve embarked on.”
• “Pride and outward show is an arch-seducer of reason, when you think you’re occupied in the weightiest business that’s when it has you in its spell.”

References:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hu0xDtK3g3Q&list=PLzKrfPkpj5olfny8ao7uoBTydABymwEdu

• “How easy it is to repel and wipe away every impression which is troublesome or unsuitable, and immediately to be in all tranquility.”
• “Your mind will take the shape of what you frequently hold in thought, for the human spirit is colored by such impressions.”
• “The mind adapts and converts to its own purposes the obstacle to our acting. The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way.”

References:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hu0xDtK3g3Q&list=PLzKrfPkpj5olfny8ao7uoBTydABymwEdu

https://www.modernmindfulness.com/

“Philosophy does not propose to secure for a man any external thing. If it did (or if it were not, as I say), philosophy would be allowing something which is not within its province.” -Epictetus

 “Let philosophy scrape off your own faults, rather than be a way to rail against the faults of others.” -Seneca

"This is therefore to say that the transformation of human consciousness through meditation is frustrated so long as we think of it as something that I by myself can bring about, by some sort of wangle, by some sort of gimmick. Because you see it leads to endless games of spiritual oneupmanship. And of guru competition. Of my guru being more effective than your guru. My yogas are faster than your yoga. I am more aware of myself than you are. I am humbler than you are. I am sorrier for my sins than you are. I love you more than you love me. There’s this interminable goings on where people fight and wonder whether they are a bit more evolved than somebody else and so on.” -Alan Watts

References:
https://dailystoic.com/keeping-your-cool-40-stoic-quotes-on-taming-anger/

Imagine what life would be like if you could be at peace with your own mortality, so much so you could actually enjoy a strawberry in the face of death itself.
     
The fear of death and lack of presence is where suffering persists. Those who learn to truly become present are those free from the burden of the fear of death, and thus can truly live.

“We really shouldn’t be here at all. Considering that we are here, and considering that we really won’t be around all that long, even if we die of extreme old age, should instill a profound sense of appreciation for the present moment. There is no staying off that cliff; there is no avoiding those tigers forever. The mouse of inexorable time is chewing away at our lifeline moment by moment. The only choice is whether or not we will notice, eat and enjoy the strawberry. Because whether we enjoy or ignore it, we’re still getting eaten by that tiger.”
-Dr. Munr Kazmir
https://medium.com/age-of-awareness/the-tiger-and-the-strawberry-b73de1dccf19

“Tigers above, tigers below. This is actually the predicament that we are always in, in terms of our birth and death. Each moment is just what it is. It might be the only moment of our life; it might be the only strawberry we’ll ever eat. We could get depressed about it, or we could finally appreciate it and delight in the preciousness of every single moment of our life.” — Pema Chodron

Clothing:
@yeet.stuff
https://yeet-stuff.com/

After leaving Postmates, Ulf took a moment to reflect on his work and how he accomplished it. He devoured books, blogs, and videos to better understand how to improve his productivity and use his time mindfully. This thoughtfulness eventually became his next venture. After designing the platform and building a team that shares the same passion for achieving mindfulness at work, Ulf launched Centered in 2020.

​

Jason has a passion for helping people of all ages feel great and deeply cares for every client that he works with. His goal is to help people attain optimal health and wellness. When he isn’t working, Jason loves to read, swim, and practice martial arts.

www.explorationsinhealth.com

Email: explorationsinhealth@gmail.com

Instagram: @jasonbrazil_lmt

• Zen’s style of action is to enter everything wholeheartedly without having to keep an eye on itself. This is what it is to have trust.
• There is great value in believing in yourself. If you cannot trust yourself, you cannot really trust anyone.
• Trusting yourself is not necessarily for the faint of heart. Those courageous enough to do so create a very fulfilling and meaningful life because they become sincere in their expression rather than living in a delusion of performance trying to appease everyone around them.
•  It can be difficult and feel foggy at times. Remember to just breathe and listen to what you’re feeling in the moment. 
• When you have emotions come up, ask them what they’re trying to tell you. Trying to get rid of them is an expression of distrust towards yourself and removes your sense of autonomy.
•  Remember if you’re going to say yes to an opportunity. Make sure you’re saying yes to yourself first.

Micah has functioned as an assistant striking coach for kickboxing and MMA. He has also worked as a competitive gymnastics coach for the past 12 years, as well as a strength and conditioning coach.

Micah was also an affiliated athlete for the World Freerunning and Parkour Federation. Hosting the MTV Ultimate Parkour Challenge Crash tour in Austin, TX, and one of the first certified movement/ parkour coaches in the nation certified by the WFPF.

Follow him on IG @corsairbjj

https://corsairbjj.com/

Kevin is on a mission to end trauma and assist human evolution. He utilizes coaching, visionary leadership, and trauma-informed bodywork to fuel his vision of positively impacting the trajectory of the human race.

His bold “tough love” strategy, combined with trauma-informed unique practical guidance, has helped tens of thousands of people from all over the world break toxic cycles, heal emotional and relational traumas, and live with more self-love, healthier relationships, and inner fulfillment.

Find Kevin at:
www.heartguy.com
www.dark72.com
@the.heart.guy 

“Food that is vomited up as soon as it is eaten is not assimilated into the body and does not do one any good. Nothing hinders a cure so much as frequent changes of treatment.Nothing is so useful that it can be of any service in mere passing.” -Seneca,

Seneca Quote “Letters From A Stoic: Letter III”:
“People who never relax and people who are invariably in a relaxed state merit your disapproval — the former as much as the latter. For a delight in bustling about is not industrious — it is only the restless energy of a haunted mind. And the state of mind that looks on all activity as tiresome is not true repose, but a spineless inertia.”

You can find Eric at @champagnecoder on Instagram for content on life lessons, career advancement, work/lifestyle setup, and technical interview prep!

Check him out at https://nickorebelmusic.com/

On this very first episode of The Zen Stoic Path, you will:

Discover what Zen and Stoicism are, how they differ, and how they come together to create the hybrid philosophy of Zen Stoicism. 

We will also be going over how Zen Stoicism prevented me from hitting rock bottom in 2020, and how you can apply the same lessons to create unshakeable inner peace in your life!

2020 was a crazy year for everybody,

We all dealt with political polarity and a global pandemic that triggered chaos.

Social isolation and social media didn’t help, either.

We lived through it, though...but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t scary.

The scariest part of 2020 for me, surprisingly, was not the pandemic, though:

It was the fact that my personal life changed entirely.

In 2020 alone,

• My dad got diagnosed with melanoma (and I lost my mom to cancer when I was a kid, so this hit home hard for me)...
• My grandpa passed away…
• A business deal that I invested heavily into, fell sideways & the money disappeared…
• One of my close, trusted friends & I fell out…
• I had minor injuries from Jiu Jitsu (which is basically my version of therapy), and it prevented me from practicing...
• Finally, my marriage fell apart.

These experiences made me feel hopeless at the time, but because of them, I discovered an unexpected gift…

Since I was pushed to the extremes of my emotional endurance, and I had nothing else to fall back on…

I leaned on to what I DID have: Zen and Stoicism.

Zen and Stoicism essentially formed my new, internal compass…

Zen kept me fully present, meaning I actually felt my emotions and the pain of my experience, rather than blocking them out. 

Stoicism helped me take ownership of the problems..so I could do whatever was in my control, to move forward with a clear mind. 

...So it didn’t turn out to be a rock bottom year for me after all.

For YEARS, I had been helping others create unshakeable peace, even when it felt like the world around them was falling apart. 

So in 2020,

The same methods and insights I once developed to serve my clients…

Were then the exact things I relied on -- to help myself.

And I survived a year of hell. 

It WORKED.

I actually emerged more happy, peaceful, and accepting of myself than I’ve ever been.

-I was able to help my dad, who decided to take his health into his own hands (and is now healthier than ever)!

-I had my most successful financial year of business, with the least amount of work-related stress.

-My marriage dissolved, but I passed through the heartbreak without losing my own center...and everything was managed with peace and respect.

In a deeply personal sense, all of these situations illustrated how POWERFUL the combination of Zen and Stoicism can be.

It won’t keep you from experiencing hardships...

But it CAN permanently alter the way you respond to the storms you inevitably get caught in.

For months, I’ve been preparing something new to share with the world…

Prior to 2020, I wouldn’t have had the courage to share this (because I wore a mask that I thought others wanted to see).

But it seems like the protective layers I once had, have largely dissolved & revealed who I really am. 

So now, I’m excited to share the new embodiment of the timeless wisdom that has meant so much to me, and I hope it serves you.

Join me on this very first episode of, The Zen Stoic Path!

The Zen Stoic path will guide you to unshakable inner peace through a unique approach that blends the timeless wisdom of Zen Buddhism and Stoicism. 

Through this journey, you’ll apply thousands of years of lessons, while integrating modern techniques of emotional mastery. You'll be ready to conquer any challenge life throws your way while being peacefully, present to each moment.
Join us on the Zen Stoic path today.