In this episode, we sit down with John Shearer, an Australian mindfulness master, spiritual life coach, and the founder of MindfullyMad.org. After surviving a life-altering near-death experience in 1982, John spent "15 dark years" battling psychosis, severe depression, and suicidal thoughts while stuck in the mental health system.

Told by professionals that he could never be cured, John experienced a "miracle" spiritual awakening that led him to get off medication and reclaim his life. Now, with over 10,000 hours of study in mindfulness and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), John shares his simple yet transformative practice to help others find inner peace.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• The Near-Death Experience (NDE): How a horrific car accident changed John's perspective on life and removed his fear of death.
• Overcoming Psychosis: John's journey through 15 years of mental health struggles and the "dark epiphany" that almost led him to suicide.
• The Power of the Pause: A deep dive into John's signature practice: Be Mindful, Pause, Connect.
• Respond vs. React: How mindfulness strengthens intuition and allows you to respond with wisdom rather than reacting with emotion.
• Reclaiming Your Life: How to use mindfulness to improve relationships, boost creativity, and live with purpose.

Connect with John Shearer:

www.MindfullyMad.org

https://www.facebook.com/mindful99

https://x.com/mindfulmad

Connect with Doug Beitz:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dougbeitz/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dougbeitz/

Website: https://buymeacoffee.com/dougbeitz

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6mQ258nugC3lyw3SpvYuoK?si=7cec409527d34438

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/intuitive-conversations-with-doug/id1593172364

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/doug-beitz-472a4b338/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dougbeitz178

📍 Podcast Host: Doug Beitz

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Keywords

Mindfulness for trauma, healing psychosis naturally, John Shearer mindfulness, near-death experience stories, spiritual awakening journey, How to practice mindfulness, respond vs react, overcoming suicidal thoughts, mental health stigma, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), inner peace techniques, mindfulness master interview, How to get off psychiatric medication, life after a near-death experience, simple mindfulness practices for anxiety, finding purpose after trauma.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction to John Shearer | Mindfulness Coach & Trauma Survivor 00:47 – Near-Death Experience Interest & Podcast Opening 01:25 – 1982 Car Accident Story | Life-Changing Moment 01:56 – Psychosis Diagnosis & 15 Years in Mental Health System 02:24 – The Turning Point | "Miracle" Visit from an Old Friend 03:08 – Power of Sharing Your Story for Healing & Reducing Stigma 03:50 – Spiritual Awakening Through a Friend's Life Story 05:02 – Joining a Spiritual Group & Beginning Transformation 05:50 – What is Psychosis? Explained Through Personal Experience 06:31 – Dark Epiphany & Suicidal Thoughts Story 08:15 – The Inner Voice That Saved His Life 09:28 – Finding Purpose After Trauma 10:02 – What It Feels Like to Come Back from Unconsciousness 11:06 – Losing Fear of Death After Near-Death Experience 11:57 – Life Lessons from "Tuesdays with Morrie" 13:34 – Rebuilding Life | Business, Work, and Moving Forward 13:55 – Discovering Mindfulness & ACT Therapy 14:49 – Becoming a Mindfulness Coach | Early Challenges 15:28 – Working with Youth & Mentorship Journey 16:25 – "Be Mindful, Pause, Connect" Explained 17:10 – How to Control Your Mind Using Mindfulness 18:12 – The Power of Presence & Deep Connection 19:04 – Respond vs React | Emotional Control Technique 20:17 – Building Inner Peace Through Mindfulness Practice 21:15 – Breathing, Awareness & Emotional Regulation 23:50 – Firefighter Analogy | Responding vs Reacting 24:25 – Why Mindfulness Actually Works (Despite Simplicity) 25:12 – Gratitude, Values & Rewiring the Brain 26:04 – Powerful Exercise: Imagine Your Own Funeral 27:38 – Remote Viewing & Advanced Mind Techniques 29:10 – Unlocking Human Potential & Intuition 30:13 – Why Spirituality is Missing in Mental Health Care 31:17 – What is Synchronicity? Explained 32:24 – Depression, Isolation & Social Disconnection 33:29 – Real-Life Intuition Story | Helping Someone Suicidal 34:46 – Coincidence vs Synchronicity 35:04 – Following Signs & Trusting Life's Direction 37:06 – Taking Big Leaps of Faith | Life-Changing Decisions 38:43 – Listening to Your Heart When Unsure 40:02 – Using Intuition in Major Life Decisions 41:34 – Real Example: Trusting Intuition in Career Choices 42:36 – Hypnotherapy & Breaking Bad Habits (Smoking Example) 44:01 – Interrupting Habits with Mindfulness 45:01 – Conscious vs Unconscious Living 46:15 – The Power of Words & Language Awareness 47:51 – Fear of Judgment & Its Impact on Decisions 49:54 – Reprogramming Beliefs & Mental Conditioning 51:24 – Transforming Prisoners Through Mindset Work 52:27 – Mindfulness in Extreme Environments (Prison Story) 54:05 – Nature, Silence & Finding Inner Answers 54:30 – Can We Change the World? One Person at a Time 55:40 – Protecting Inner Peace in a Chaotic World