Conversations on A More Beautiful Way

I loved having this conversation about my new book, A More Beautiful Way to Live, with Beth Silvers. What was so fun about this chat is that we had it on our shared birthday, March 4th!

Thank you for hosting me, Beth, and thanks to those of you who attended live.

Much love,

Bethaney

Thank you to everyone who tuned into my conversation with Kaitlin Curtice about her book, Everything is A Story. You can get your copy here.

About This Episode

In this conversation, Bethaney Wilkinson and Tracey Gee explore the themes of desire, restlessness, and personal growth. They discuss the importance of recognizing and embracing one’s desires, the role of community in navigating these feelings, and the significance of self-awareness and experimentation in personal development. They also touch on the challenges of dealing with disappointment and grief, and how these experiences can ultimately lead to deeper understanding and fulfillment. The conversation emphasizes the need for permission and agency in pursuing one’s desires while balancing personal aspirations with the realities of the world.

Chapters

* 00:00 Introduction and Personal Updates

* 01:52 Exploring Restlessness and Change

* 06:01 The Power of Desire

* 09:55 Navigating Permission and Agency

* 14:03 Building Safety in Pursuing Desires

* 17:50 Self-Awareness and Strengths

* 22:03 Balancing External Demands with Personal Desires

* 24:55 Finding Control Amidst Overwhelm

* 28:33 Embracing Experimentation in Life

* 32:03 Navigating Disappointment and Grief

* 37:12 Desire-Based Goal Setting

* 43:17 Practices for a Grounded Life

Keywords

restlessness, desire, agency, community, uncertainty, self-awareness, experimentation, disappointment, grief, goal setting

Takeaways to Contemplate

* Restlessness can be a powerful signal for change.

* Desire is often seen as selfish, but it can be generative.

* Naming our desires can help us reclaim our authenticity.

* Community can provide safety in exploring our desires.

* Disappointment can teach us about our true desires.

* Experimentation allows for growth and learning.

* Self-awareness is crucial in understanding our desires.

* Navigating uncertainty requires practice and patience.

* Grief and disappointment are part of the journey towards fulfillment.

Links Galore

Learn More about Tracey Gee here and access her guide to desire-based goal setting here.

Preorder my book, A More Beautiful Way to Live, here.

www.bethaneywilkinson.com / [email protected] / @bethaney.bree

About this Episode

In this conversation, Beth and Bethaney explore themes of personal growth, spirituality, and the complexities of navigating identity and political discourse. They discuss the importance of beginning with self-awareness, particularly through the lens of physicality and breath, and how this practice informs their work and interactions with the world. The conversation also delves into the role of grief in political life, the challenges of changing perspectives in public discourse, and the significance of community and connection in fostering energy and momentum for change.

Chapters

* Introduction and Background

* Beginning with the Body and Breath

* Navigating Pain and Fatigue

* Spirituality and Faith Journey

* Research and Media Consumption

* Finding One's Voice in Media

* Reflections on Racial Identity

* Changing Perspectives in Public Discourse

* The Role of Grief in Political Life

* Energy and Momentum in Community

* Closing Thoughts and Practices

Keywords

conversation, spirituality, media, grief, identity, political discourse, personal growth, self-awareness, community, healing

Takeaways to Contemplate

* Beginning with the body and breath is essential for self-awareness.

* Pain and fatigue can be seen as companions rather than obstacles.

* Flexibility in belief systems can lead to deeper understanding.

* Policy cannot solve every issue; some questions remain unanswerable.

* Trusting one's own voice is crucial in media consumption.

* Grief is a manifestation of love and connection.

Links Galore

Read Beth’s Substack, Thoughts & Prayers. Listen to and follow Pantsuit Politics. Preorder my book, A More Beautiful Way to Live.

www.bethaneywilkinson.com / [email protected] / @bethaney.bree

Listening to our soul in all seasons, but especially those of restlessness, is hard, but rewarding work. In today’s episode, you get to hear Matt’s story of listening to the restlessness of his soul and pursuing a richer life through vulnerability. 

Matt and I discuss:

playing in community

navigating transitions in our identity

listening for restlessness of our souls

importance for vulnerability

the need for community 

Episode Notes:

For the episode transcript, click here. 

Learn More About Stoke: https://www.stokethefire.live/about

Learn More About the January 2024 Stoke Retreat: https://www.stokethefire.live/events

A More Beautiful Way is an exploration of what it takes to slow down, create sacred space, and bring healing hearts, minds & bodies to the work of social change. 

To learn more and read along, go to https://www.amorebeautifulway.co/. 

To keep up with us, you can follow us on Instagram: @amorebeautifulway –  https://www.instagram.com/amorebeautifulway/

Learning how to tell the truth about who we are is among the bravest and most challenging work we do. It is also essential for our growth and flourishing. In today’s podcast, you get to hear Danielle’s story of shedding old identities and stepping more fully into her sacred work and identity. 

Danielle and I discuss:

shedding layers of conditioning and expectations 

choosing to not become a biological mother

the liberating power of Black storytelling

making space for our healing and evolution

listening to and learning from our inner children

heartache’s ability to water the seeds of our growth

the nuances of intergenerational healing 

Episode Notes:

For the episode transcript, click here.

Learn more about Danielle here: https://bloomingallover.co/

The link to learn more about the retreat and receive The Re:naissance Within Reflection Guide:

https://bloomingallover.myflodesk.com/renaissancereflectionguide

A More Beautiful Way is an exploration of what it takes to slow down, create sacred space, and bring healing hearts, minds & bodies to the work of social change. 

To learn more and read along, go to https://www.amorebeautifulway.co/. 

To keep up with us, you can follow us on Instagram: @amorebeautifulway –  https://www.instagram.com/amorebeautifulway/

What does it look like to be connected to our minds and our bodies in today’s society? 

This A More Beautiful Way Conversation with Dr. Cherini Ghobrial is a thought provoking reflection on what it looks like to feel your feelings, come home to your body and live embodied. 

Cherini and I discuss:

being conditioned to be a high achiever 

chronic pain and fatigue 

living in the present, moment by moment 

coming home to yourself and somatic therapy 

feeling your feelings and coming back into your body

countercultural living focused on healing and liberation 

the rapture of being alive and aliveness as a human right 

Learn more about Dr. Cherini Ghobrial - Cherini’s website 

Episode Notes:

For the episode transcript, click here. 

A More Beautiful Way is an exploration of what it takes to slow down, create sacred space, and bring healing hearts, minds & bodies to the work of social change. 

To learn more and read along, go to https://www.amorebeautifulway.co/. 
To keep up with us, you can follow us on Instagram: @amorebeautifulway –  https://www.instagram.com/amorebeautifulway/

What does it look like to hold the nuances of resistance, decolonization, storytelling, and everyday flourishing in today’s world? 

This A More Beautiful Way Conversation with Kaitlin Curtice is a thoughtful, shared reflection on what it looks like to slow down, to tend to our wounds, to build connection through storytelling and to continue on the journey of healing and decolonization. 

Kaitlin and I discuss:

• the daily habits that ground the morning and orient our days
  


• the need for grief and ritual as we move through life’s endings
  


• how the wisdom of children is vital in our creation of a more beautiful future and world
  


• the meaning of decolonization, both personally and collectively
  


• the complexity of indigeneity and the importance of learning from indigenous peoples around the world 
  


• rooting in gratitude as a spiritual practice 
  


• writing and creativity as a pathway home 
  

This conversation is delightful and my hope is that you find nourishment for your inner and outer journey through listening. 

About Kaitlin

Kaitlin Curtice is an award-winning author, poet-storyteller, and public speaker. As an enrolled citizen of the Potawatomi nation, Kaitlin writes on the intersections of spirituality and identity and how that shifts throughout our lives. She also speaks on these topics to diverse audiences who are interested in truth-telling and healing. 

As an inter-spiritual advocate, Kaitlin participates in conversations on topics such as colonialism in faith communities, and she has spoken at many conferences on the importance of inter-faith relationships. 

Her new book, Living Resistance: An Indigenous Vision for Seeking Wholeness Every Day, examines the journey of resisting the status quo of hate by caring for ourselves, one another, and Mother Earth. 

Besides her books, Kaitlin has written online for Sojourners, Religion News Service, Apartment Therapy, On Being, SELF Magazine, Oprah Daily, and more. Her work has been featured on CBS and in USA Today. She also writes at The Liminality Journal. Kaitlin lives in Philadelphia with her family.

Subscribe to Kaitlin’s Substack - The Liminality Journal

Learn more about Kaitlin’s Work - Kaitlin’s Website

Buy Kaitlin’s Newest Book - Living Resistance: An Indigenous Vision for Seeking Wholeness Everyday

For the episode transcript, click here. 

A More Beautiful Way is an exploration of what it takes to slow down, create sacred space, and bring healing hearts, minds & bodies to the work of social change. 

To learn more and read along, go to https://www.amorebeautifulway.co/. 

To keep up with us, you can follow us on Instagram: @amorebeautifulway –  https://www.instagram.com/amorebeautifulway/

In this A More Beautiful Way Conversation, Hillarie Maddox and I have a warm, inviting dialogue on what it looks like to rewild our lives and create slower, more connected lives. 

Hillarie and I discuss:

identity and self discovery 

landscape, culture and sustainability in South Dakota 

homesteading 

land and healing for black women 

race, land ownership, and connection to the land 

rewilding and slowing down our lives

Connect with Hillarie: 

Apply for Rewilding Coaching w/ Hillarie: https://rewildingcoaching.lpages.co/fall2024/

Read Black Girl Country Living: https://bgcl.substack.com

Follow Hillarie on Instagram: @blackgirl.countryliving

Episode Notes:

For the episode transcript, click here. 

A More Beautiful Way is an exploration of what it takes to slow down, create sacred space, and bring healing hearts, minds & bodies to the work of social change. 

To learn more and read along, go to https://www.amorebeautifulway.co/. 

To keep up with us, you can follow us on Instagram: @amorebeautifulway –  https://www.instagram.com/amorebeautifulway/