In Parker Palmer’s book, Healing the Heart of Democracy, he cites 5 habits of the heart that will help us move beyond fear.  Using excerpts from a 2013 interview, we examine the first habit — we are all connected.

Resources:

Parker’s full description of Habit One

An Hour Interview with Parker Palmer

For More Best of Ourselves Podcasts on Community and Relationships

The post BOO507- Encore – Healing the Heart of Democracy – Habit 1 appeared first on Marcia Hyatt.

In this episode, I reflect on a familiar story about an elephant held in place not by a rope, but by a belief that trying no longer matters. Living in northern Minnesota, and hearing directly from friends and family witnessing events in the Twin Cities, I explore how that same limiting story shows up in moments when constitutional rights are being tested. Drawing on the First, Fourth, and Fourteenth Amendments—and Martin Luther King Jr.’s wisdom about power and love—I name what it means for ordinary people to stand together lawfully and nonviolently. This is a reflection on civic courage, community, and why showing up, even without certainty, is how democracy is sustained.

The post BOO506 – When Trying Still Matters appeared first on Marcia Hyatt.

A casual question during a cell phone upgrade sparked an unexpected political exchange—and a deeper inquiry into how we meet one another across difference. This episode reflects on presence, sacred engagement, and Martin Luther King Jr.’s reminder that love and power must work together if we’re to create justice and avoid becoming what we oppose.

Resources

Healing the Divide

The post BOO505 – An Unexpected Lesson at the Cell Phone Store appeared first on Marcia Hyatt.

Thanks to Kathy Magnuson for sharing her Awe Journal practice and it’s impact on her life.

Resources

Finding Awe

Awe: The new Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life

The post BOO504 – Encore – Noticing Awe-full Moments appeared first on Marcia Hyatt.

A Thanksgiving moment went wrong—a small dog, a sudden crisis, and my brain completely freezing. What followed wasn’t competence or quick thinking, but a powerful lesson in how stress disconnects us from our bodies.

In this episode, I reflect on what that scare revealed about presence, uncertainty, and the quiet wisdom our bodies carry—especially during long, difficult seasons. A reminder that when answers aren’t available, staying honest with what’s here may be enough.

The post BOO503 – What a Holiday Scare Taught Me About Presence appeared first on Marcia Hyatt.

When we contemplate significant changes in our lives, our flight, fight, or freeze response may kick in. We tend to prioritize safety, and our autonomic nervous system can pose a significant barrier to transformation. Learning to move forward without waging an internal war is crucial.

Resources

Acceptance as a Step Towards Growth

Curiosity as a Growth Tool

Intentions: Allies for Growth

The post BOO502- Encore – Change One Step At A Time appeared first on Marcia Hyatt.

What if strength isn’t something we build for ourselves alone? Inspired by the Grand Portage Band’s response to the closure of our local Coast Guard station, this reflection explores how Indigenous wisdom challenges our dominant story of competition, scarcity, and separateness—and invites us into a different way of living, grounded in connection, love, and shared belonging.

Resources

Imprisoned by Our Story

Suffocating

What Do You See?

The post BOO501 – Choosing Love in a World Built on Dominance appeared first on Marcia Hyatt.

Many of us experience stress during the holidays.  In this special episode we explore what helps us be resilient when stress shows up.

Resources:

University of Minnesota Center for Spirituality and Healing on Stress

Busy without Stress Podcast

Work Your Mindfulness Podcast

Accepting What Shows Up Podcast

The post BOO500- Encore – Holiday Stress Resilience appeared first on Marcia Hyatt.

Being human isn’t tidy. In this episode, I share two moments—one small, one life-shaking—that pulled me right into the rawness of shame, fear, and uncertainty. What I’m learning is this: the struggle isn’t a failure. It’s the place where honesty and grace can actually reach us.

Resources

Living in Uncertainty

The post BOO499 – The Trouble of Being Human appeared first on Marcia Hyatt.

A frown, a misunderstanding, and a lesson I’m still practicing: most of the time, it’s not about us. Here’s what that moment taught me about assumptions, boundaries, and staying true to ourselves.

Resources

Don’t Take It Personally

The post BOO498 – The Frown appeared first on Marcia Hyatt.