Beyond the basement

“If you want it done right, do it yourself” right? Because people can’t be trusted. They mean well, but your shoulders are broad enough to cope alone. Can you relate? If so, you could be the self-reliant type like me. Not that we don’t like or want support; it’s just tricky to ask for, and even harder to receive. So we chose the path of struggle and isolation. You martyr you! Nothing wrong with self-reliance, it works, it gets stuff done. In excess (hyper form) though it can get in the way of the love, care and support every human needs to thrive. There’s much to be found on the other side of accepting care and letting other people into your world, to help carry the burden. In this episode I’ll share my recent experience of what can happen if we loosen the grip of hyper self-reliance.

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This one’s all about how you relate to yourself and other people - and the warm and fuzzy rewards you get when you’re more emotionally available, authentic and vulnerable. Let’s face it, modern life keeps your head down, your attention inward and your spirits low. The pace is of life relentless, urgent and fast - more, more, more, they tell you! In my experience this can sit at odds with the slower, softer, whispered language of the heart. Here you’ll find three ways to get yourself something we’re all starved of - connection: feeling seen, heard, valued and understood. And it starts with you. Join me on a walk for three bits of insight that have helped me open up and let people in.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chriskenworthy.substack.com

If you’re anything like me, slowing down physically, mentally or emotionally is a lesson you’re doomed to learn over and over again. There’s an underlying habit of urgency, to do and be more, and to get there quickly in case time runs out or you miss it. In this episode I reflect on some enlightening feedback, and share insight from my recent adventures in Authentic Relating. Hopefully I make a fair case for both fast and slow, as well as attuning to whatever the situation needs from you.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chriskenworthy.substack.com

Your playfulness helps you navigate uncertainty, deepen your relationships, be more creative with problems, and generally have more fun and joy in life. Here I explore three powerful ways to invite more of that into life. I think we’re all naturally playful at heart, it isn’t something you need to learn or add. More of a remembering or uncovering beneath what life can dump on top of it. That’s certainly been my experience. For many years I got stuck in serious and sensible mode - joyless and apathetic. That part still exists, I’ve just found that in liberating my playful parts, life is fuller, there’s more range and richness. I wish that for you too. Join me for a walk in the woods as we explore all this and more…

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chriskenworthy.substack.com

If you’re anything like me you avoid arguments and confrontation. I prefer the easy life - it’s only natural. Yet in choosing the path of least resistance, we can miss out on what’s on the other side of all that pain, conflict and tension. Also known as ‘rupture and repair’ with our fellow humans. Here I explore what’s on the other side with a live story from the Authentic Relating leadership retreat I’ve been on in France. Join me by the lake for the third and final instalment of reflections on how we relate to one another, and everything they didn’t teach you at school about human-ing.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chriskenworthy.substack.com

Is life something that happens to you, or something you have a say in? This one’s about how much power and agency we have, or choose, in our own lived experience. If we choose none, we can fall into a state of collapse and victimhood. If we seize it all there’s a risk of becoming a bully in a state of aggressive posturing at the world. So what’s a healthier way to meet pain (and pleasure) in life? This is the second part of my reflections from an Authentic Relating leadership retreat in France. I recorded this shortly before I facilitated a group workshop all about this exact theme - how we own (or disown) our experience, and what that means.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chriskenworthy.substack.com

Ever jump to conclusions about people? Or feel a bit judgey - like you know better. Here we’ll explore what happens when we do this, how it gets in the way of relationships and how we might try something different. Assume nothing is one of the five practices of Authentic Relating (AR). I recorded this while on retreat in France, doing my level 3 leadership training in this beautiful way to rediscover your love for life, self and other humans.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chriskenworthy.substack.com

If, after doing a big or difficult thing, you quickly move on to the next big or difficult thing, taking your performance for granted - you probably had high expectations and low support as a youngster, like me. Perhaps you too are a lifelong perfectionist, hyper self-reliant type, or chronic overachiever. Hello, I see you. Join me as I unpick a recent experience that brings this to life, and the journey before/during/after of how this shows up. We’ll also explore how to break the pattern of dissatisfaction, disconnection and sadness that can happen when we don’t allow ourselves the care and support we need.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chriskenworthy.substack.com

Is it possible to 'get on' on life, yet be more consciously lazy? What's like life with the absence of striving. This August I checked out, and gave things more space in life. And three curious, unexpected things happened, that'll I'll share in this episode.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chriskenworthy.substack.com

Life is all about giving and recieving. Give and take. And trying, striving, efforting to stack the odds in your favour so you get what you want only seems to make life more difficult. I'm exploring a new way to get on in life. With more grace, acceptance and allowing of what is. The universe heard me and offered a challenge with a recent experience. Here I attempt to make sense of it.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chriskenworthy.substack.com