It is with a very heavy and grieving heart that I share with you that Lisa Barry the co-host and co-founder of the Exploring Awareness podcast died unexpectedly on November 30, 2021. In this episode, we grieve together using David Whyte's poem entitled The Well of Grief, and a guided meditation, with emphasis on mindfulness of the emotion of grief using the RAIN acronym of recognize, acknowledge/accept, investigate and nurture. This is tragic, unexpected and challenges everything we discuss in this podcast, while at the same time allows us an opportunity to grieve with grace, and somehow find peace.

Episode # 61: The Myth of Self Improvement

The self-improvement industry thrives on a fundamental myth that there is something wrong with you that needs to be improved. Where does the idea that "I'm not ok" come from in the first place? In this episode, we turn the idea of self-improvement on its head. What if you are already fine and don't need to be fixed? Although your mind may not allow you to believe this, exploring awareness and discovering the qualities at the core of your being leads to a realization of who you really are. These realizations render self-improvement projects un-necessary. Instead, you are infused with a loving presence and the Joy of being. You just may start to notice that you move around informed by like wisdom and peace and joy and love and generosity as opposed to being informed by preconceived ideas of defensiveness and ego attachment and competition-the source of the need for self-improvement in the first place. By giving yourself the gift that this is a possibility, return to the self that never needed improvement happens organically.

Episode 60: Exploring Awareness Of Dualistic Thinking And Its Impact

Opinions, advice and judgments tend to be experienced as having to be either this way or that way with little room in between, There is your way- which you might feel is the right, usual, customary, comfortable way and then there is the other way – which may seem wrong, not usual and not comfortable. This very common tendency is called dualistic thinking. In this episode, we bring compassionate awareness to this tendency and explore how it brings reactions instead of responses. Being aware of the dynamic of dualistic thinking stops the "autopilot" reaction providing then an opportunity to see what is occurring and realize things may not be that straightforward. Going deeper, through exploring awareness, allows the unconscious to become conscious- getting to the root of unconsciousness and bias. From this place of deep awareness, life doesn't fit into boxes. Now, freedom from duality and an opportunity to act from a place of peace, joy, love and generosity arises.

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Episode 59: Could Your Natural State Be Loving Awareness?

A popular Ram Dass quote- "The natural state of the mind is pure love, which is not other than pure awareness"- sums up much of the dialogue in exploring awareness podcast episodes. The conditions in our current moment in history could lead one away from an open hearted loving awareness to a small and aggressive protective stance that can be amplified by the loudest voices on TV, radio and social media.

It is possible to realize an identity as awareness and experience the state of the true mind as love. In this episode, we include a guided meditation to point the way to HOW you may start or continue a journey towards these realizations.

Listen and ask yourself – Is it time to move on from an adolescent, ego-centric perspective, or from a locked in, negative curmudgeon perspective of closed minded adulthood to a loving awareness perspective that will make the world a better place for you and those around you?

Episode 58: Are Judgements Blocking You from Peace and Happiness?

Judging, putting people into categories, assigning negative attributes, sticking with first impressions, even ghosting can become a personal and community norm performed without thought or consciousness. Self judgement as well stems from our experience with families and other cultural groups who judged us and made it seem normal. In this episode, we look at the roots of judgement by becoming aware that we are judging, and then exploring the awareness of the thoughts and emotions that lead to judgment. Some definitions of mindfulness include a phrase that suggests we pay attention in a certain way "non-judgmentally". Although we can't force ourselves to stop judging by just using using our mind, we can use mindfulness techniques to explore awareness, watching judgments arise, dissolve and fall away. The freedom that comes from this practice will then give you an opportunity to respond rather than react, you will be happier and so will the people around you.

Episode 57: How the Awareness of Change Can Lead to Peace and Ease

Change is part of the human experience. Welcome change can be fun and challenging, unwelcome change can lead to resistance and stagnation. Changes imposed by family or work situations can be especially difficult to accept, especially if they appear without warning. In this episode, we discuss a perspective that emerges from exploring awareness of change. Instead of the change occupying the thoughts and energy, a shift occurs to where the awareness of the change, and its effects on thoughts and emotions transforms these conditions into present moment awareness, where everything is stable, peaceful and calm. It may seem counterintuitive, but a realization of the impermanence of all things provides a stability and groundedness that allow us to respond instead of react,

Forcing oneself to "accept things as they are" or asking others to, sets up conflict, invokes defensiveness and leads to stuck, judgmental feelings. Exploring awareness leads to a spaciousness where the present moment event is allowed to be what it is- good or bad. This is not the same as allowing bad things to happen if they can be prevented- but if an event has occurred, becoming aware opens a compassionate channel through which we can move. "What you resist – persists" and "the only way out is through". Practicing awareness though regular mindfulness meditation opens compassionate awareness so that both wonderful and adverse events can be experienced with grace.

What is the Mind, and is the Mind just the neurological activity of the brain?. Although we don't solve this problem in this episode, this question helps create an "exploring awareness" perspective. By becoming aware of the brain as an amazing resource similar to computer hardware and software, the part of us that is aware becomes activated and realized. With the realization of awareness comes a freedom experienced as spaciousness, open heartedness, open mindedness. When you're no longer locked into the neurological habits of your brain and you have woken up to identity as awareness then there's love, peace, joy, generosity and the ability for a sense of awe and wisdom and response instead of reaction.

When you're aware you're aware- that is another level of existence that has an opportunity for some real peace and love and a real authentic experience with this very precious human life. It's so precious and rare and it doesn't last that long and there are so many ways that you can use it, so why not use it for good?