A Satisfied Mind

On a daily basis I witness people catching themselves feeling and trying desperately to control themselves.

Most of my life I've wondered why it's so hard to feel and express emotions. I've wondered why we don't do it more, why it feels so terrifying, why so many avoid it especially around others, why it's not modelled for us, why we're not taught it at school, at work, everywhere.

Such a fundamental human experience - to feel. And so many don't know how to.

In this episode I look at why that might be the case, what it's costing us as individuals and as a society, and how we can address this.

I reference Marc Brackett's wonderful book, 'Permission to Feel' and his RULER methodology. It's brilliant - check it out here. And if you want to improve your ability to recognise and label feelings, the mood meter app is a great resource. 

Here's to normalising feeling, and the healthy expression and regulation of our emotions. 

With Love,

Michael

Hi,

Welcome back. It's good to be back.

February is the new New Year, January felt a bit like a false start. As much as we want to kick off the new calendar year all frothy and full of hope and goals and dreams, that wasn't how it was for me and many others. 

There was still some reckoning to be done. It was necessary, integration time is essential and too often overlooked in the pursuit of the next thing, avoiding what needs to be acknowledged.

That's what this next seasons is about - acknowledging the stuff we tend to shy away from.

We're going there. Join me. 

With love.

Michael 

I started this podcast in March 2020 and have done 85 episodes since. It's been one helluva ride and in this episode I reflect on the conversations, the learning, the transformation that has been our shared experience.

I wanted to keep it short but there was a lot to cover. It gets real. There is negroni so there are tears and so much appreciation, for it all.

To listen to the wisdom of Francis Weller I suggest this conversation with Mark Groves.

And for an introduction to the IFS (Internal Family Systems) therapy model, check out this conversation with founder of the model Richard Schwartz on the Sounds True podcast.

Thank you for listening. 

With love,

Michael

I recorded this episode directly into my phone in the middle of a beautiful forest in the Luxulyan Valley in Cornwall. There was no mic so the sound might be a bit dodgy.

I had just written some words in my journal and felt like it was time to share an update.

For more words please visit my newsletter here.

I hope this finds you well.

Michael

Show notes and links to places I recommended:

Mt Morris House, New York

Cornhill Farm Cottages - Cornwall

Luxulyan Valley

St Eia - for food and wine in St Ives

Back to the Future - The Musical

In this episode I share a few of the things that matter most at the moment. 

Things like:

• Spending time with friends
• Visiting and sharing special places
• Witnessing beauty and the magic of nature
• Rituals and routines

I talk about jellyfish, 250 year old tress, sardines and swimming with starfish. 

For show notes and links to all the things I mentioned that you might want to follow up on, go to the newsletter here.

For shortcut to those links, here you go:

Angus and Julia Stone's new album
Spotify's new 'blend' feature
Ricky Gervais and Sam Harris' podcast 'Absolutely Mental'
Iron John
Permission to Feel
How to be More Loving by TSOL
My Octopus Teacher

Your weekly dose of inspiration, education, links and resources is here!

In this episode I share:

• One of the greatest bookstores I've been to
• How Internal Family Systems is will help you feel truly seen
• How telling the truth will change your life and Martha Beck's 'Way of Integrity
• The Green Knight and how it is the perfect hero's journey film, replete with pagan, christian and other mythology and symbology

For links to all the resources mentioned in this podcast go to the newsletter - you'll find all them and more here.

Lotsa love,

Mikey

In March 2020 I was 45, unemployed, single and living alone.  I needed to make some changes and I felt like this was an opportunity to do it. I decided to let go and allow the Universe to dish up whatever lessons I needed to learn and committed to face them and see it through, no turning back. 

And so I got my arse kicked. 

I chose to feel through my fears and take 100% responsibility for my life. I learned a lot and still am a work in progress, whole and incomplete.  

In this episode I share a few things that have helped me through. It's been messy, It's been the hardest thing I've done and it's also been the most profound experience.

I hope what I share here might help you. It will be an episode I go back to regularly to remind myself to stay in it.

Wishing you lots of love and forgiveness on your journey,

Mikey

This is the most important work we can be doing right now, the work to 'recognise your patterns, heal from your past and create your self'.

Author Dr Nicole LePera is the @the.holistic.psychologist on Instagram, you may be one of her 4.2 million followers and have seen her work. She's a great communicator and has an ability to take extremely complex human experiences like trauma and conditioning and not only explain them clearly, but in a way that empowers you to take responsibility for doing the work to heal your self.

In this episode I read highlights from the book and share some of my own commentary. I've included those highlights in a written summary over on Notion, that is free for you to access here if you'd like a copy. 

You can find out more about the book and buy it here.

Dr LePera has a great youtube channel with plenty of helpful lessons here.

You can watch the video series where she discusses each chapter of the book here.

Follow her on Instagram here @the.holistic.psychologist

In this episode I talk about:

• Uncertainty
• Hope
• Kindness
• Permission to feel

There are links galore, there's heaps of wise and inspiring quotes and a transcript from a most lovely conversation I had with a customer service agent online.

There are quotes from David Whyte, John Steinbeck, Marc Brackett, Nicole LePera, Kerrie Basha and more. It's a veritable quotefest. You'll be heaps smarter from just listening to this podcast. 

There's also giant margaritas and funky wine. Oh, and those cool bikes from that old TV show, CHiPs.

You can find all the links and all the resources here in the newsletter.

Have an awesome week, 

Mikey

Welcome to the weekly catch up! It's kinda like Friday drinks with friends, talking about the week - highlights, lessons learned, what we're looking forward to etc., but it's a podcast, because 2021.

In this episode I talk a little bit about what I'm doing here in the US, lay some love on Santa Cruz, figs and French Cider.

I share some insights from Dr Nicole LePera's book, 'How To Do The Work - recognise your patterns, heal from your past and create yourself.'

I share more insights from the great Seth Godin on the difference between making a point and making a difference, and a quote from Bob Dylan on freedom and responsibility.

And I reflect on that powerful conversation I had with Ashanti Branch on the last podcast episode. 

You can find more info and links to all of this in the newsletter that accompanies this episode right here.