Mindfulness Mode

Chris Donaldson is a passionate adventurer and author. His recent acclaimed book, Going the Wrong Way,” has garnered over 300 five-star reviews on Amazon. In 1979, Chris embarked on a planned 4-month, 10,000-mile motorcycle trip from Belfast on his café racing Moto Guzzi motorcycle, driven by a desire for self-discovery. Although his journey to Australia was interrupted by the Iranian revolution, Chris persevered, traveling over 50,000 miles and ending up high in the Andes before returning home. His book, “Going the Wrong Way,” chronicles this incredible ‘coming of age' road trip and his adventurous spirit. Chris is currently riding to Australia once again, this time on the same Moto Guzzi Le Mans road bike, 42 years later.

• Website: www.chrisdonaldson.world

• My wife, Julie

• Chris shared how mindfulness changed how he handles emotions. Mindfulness helps him stay calm and peaceful. Instead of reacting impulsively, he takes a pause and breathes.

• Chris did not have any comments or tips about breathing as it relates to mindfulness.

• Book: Zen And The Art Of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert M Pirsig

• Chris Donaldson shared a story about how mindfulness could have made a difference in dealing with bullying. He mentioned Irish politics as an example where politicians are stuck in the past, constantly fighting and unable to move on mentally. They engage in bullying tactics without considering the benefits of coming together.

• Create The Life You Love With Dr. Paul Jenkins

Tim Bui is a serial entrepreneur with expertise in flow state secrets, having profound experience in meditation and martial arts. As a psychonaut and biohacker, he explores the intersection of consciousness, personal development, and optimal performance. Tim is the founder of High Performance Humans, a company dedicated to empowering individuals through personalized personal development and leadership programs. With a deep understanding of the mind-body connection, Tim advocates for dissolving boundaries to truly be connected, transcending limitations, and embracing a state of flow. His work inspires individuals to overcome barriers, discover their potential, and lead purposeful lives, creating a ripple effect of positive change in the world.

• Company: High Performance Humans

• My Buddhist Teacher

• Through meditation, Tim has gained a new perspective on his emotions. Previously, he held negative associations with certain emotions. However, he now understands that emotions themselves are not inherently negative or positive. Instead, he recognizes that everything in life comes with trade-offs, pros, and cons.

• Tim emphasizes the importance of energy check-ins and breathwork to optimize his presence and productivity. By monitoring his energy levels and engaging in intentional breathwork when needed, he ensures he shows up at his best.

• Book: The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself by Michael A. Singer

• As a martial artist with nearly 30 years of experience, Tim has encountered bullying throughout his life. From his early years in second grade to recent experiences at a kickboxing gym, he recognizes the cycle of bullying and its impact.

• Tim Bui shared his insights on unlocking the power of flow. Drawing from his extensive experience in meditation and martial arts, Tim emphasized the importance of dissolving the boundaries between mind and body to achieve optimal performance.

• Meditation and Beyond with MindFlow App Founder Fabio Mattiussi

Shannon Duncan is an entrepreneur and author known for his book, Present Moment Awareness. In his newest work, Coming Full Circle, Shannon candidly shares the lessons he learned during his own extensive journey of using psychedelics to heal trauma. With a heartfelt desire to support others in their healing process, Shannon hopes that his experiences will provide valuable guidance to those in need. Along his path, Shannon has discovered the importance of embracing his authentic self, particularly his sense of humor, which has been a source of great reward in his own healing journey. Additionally, Shannon has developed “The Focus Tool,” a mobile app that complements his book and is available for both Apple and Android users.

• Book: Coming Full Circle: Healing Trauma Using Psychedelics by Shannon Duncan

• My Therapist, Taffy

• Shannon Duncan expressed his insight about emotions as follows: “Through my experience with mindfulness and working with my therapist, Taffy, I gained a valuable lesson in pulling myself back and simply observing my emotions. Previously, my emotions had solely defined me, as if whatever I was feeling represented an absolute truth. I hadn't considered that these emotions might arise from deeper insecurities, sadness, or a lack of feeling safe.

• Shannon Duncan emphasizes the significance of breathing, which plays a pivotal role in mindfulness. He stresses that the way we breathe is a direct reflection of our internal state. If our breath is shallow and confined to the chest, it indicates a heightened sense of panic or being in a primal, reactive state.

• Book: Coming Full Circle: Healing Trauma Using Psychedelics by Shannon Duncan

• Shannon Duncan shared a poignant story with me that delves into his personal encounter with bullying and its profound connection to the practice of mindfulness. In this moving account, Shannon reveals he once endured the painful experience of being bullied, which left enduring emotional imprints. However, it was through the transformative power of mindfulness that he discovered solace and inner strength. By cultivating a state of present moment awareness, Shannon was able to observe his thoughts and emotions without judgment, allowing him to respond to the bullying with compassion and unwavering resilience. This profound journey illuminated the remarkable capacity of mindfulness in navigating challenging situations, empowering Shannon to transcend the pain and embrace their authentic self. Through the practice of mindfulness, Shannon found the ability to rise above adversity, cultivating a deep sense of self-acceptance and fostering a compassionate perspective. His story serves as a testament to the transformative potential of mindfulness, offering hope and inspiration to others facing similar struggles.

• Reset The Mind For A Happier and Healthier Life; Matt Zemon

As time goes by, an increasing body of credible studies and research groups continue to unveil the profound therapeutic possibilities offered by psychedelics in treating conditions such as anxiety, depression, addiction, and PTSD. However, alongside the growing excitement, there is also a surge of perilous misinformation propagated by individuals seeking personal gain and self-proclaimed authorities. Shannon Duncan stands as a staunch advocate and protector for those who embark on the path of emotional healing through psychedelic substances. Having experienced the journey firsthand, Shannon understands the immense courage, unwavering determination, and profound vulnerability it takes to pursue this specialized approach to healing deep emotional wounds and trauma.

Roy Furr is a professional marketer, serving as the Chief Marketing Officer and Copy Chief for direct response companies. With his expertise, he assists clients in obtaining a higher number of leads, customers, sales, and profits. Roy's exceptional skills can be attributed to his lifelong dedication to studying psychology and maintaining a consistent meditation practice.

In 2005, while enduring a taxing customer service call center job, Roy stumbled upon the realm of direct response marketing. Within a short period, he rose to become the leading marketing specialist at an IT Training publisher, propelling them to secure a spot on Inc. Magazine's prestigious list of America's fastest-growing businesses not just once, but three times.

Throughout his life, Roy has been driven by a quest for significance, delving into literature and psychology to gain a deeper understanding. This pursuit led him to the enlightening field of Transpersonal Psychology and the profound wisdom traditions found across the globe.

• Website: www.RoyFurr.com

• Monty Page (Psychology Professor at University of Nebraska, Lincoln, who discovered Transpersonal Psychology)

• Roy Furr discusses the impact of mindfulness on his emotions, specifically mentioning Tara Brock's rain process. This process involves recognizing the emotion, allowing it to be present, and understanding its message. It also involves nurturing oneself while experiencing the emotion.

• Roy Furr acknowledges the significance of conscious breathing but also highlights some challenges associated with it. He finds that when he becomes too aware of his breath or breathes deeply, he experiences a sense of oversaturation with oxygen, which doesn't feel beneficial to him.

• Book: Radical Compassion by Tara Brock

• Roy Furr shares an incident at the local fencing club where he made eye contact with a guy who became confrontational. Despite feeling activated, Roy used his mindfulness practice to remain calm and extract himself from the situation.

• Mindfulness in Marketing, Affiliate Institute Co-Founder, Mathieu Jang

• Roy Furr advises that mindfulness is a practice rather than a quest for perfection or attaining enlightened states. He compares it to other practices like weightlifting or strength training.

Kathleen Donnelly Israel is an author who draws upon her extensive studies in spirituality and personal experiences to captivate readers. Wisdom On The Camino is the title of her first book. Born in 1949 in San Diego, CA, Kathleen has dedicated her life to exploring profound spiritual understanding. Alongside her husband Ron Israel, Kathleen raised their five children in Lakeside, San Diego County, CA, while actively serving as a Team Couple for Worldwide Marriage Encounter in the 70s and 80s. With a Bachelor's Degree in Art from San Diego State University, she furthered her knowledge in Expressive Arts Therapy at the European Graduate School in Switzerland. A certified Transformational Breathing Facilitator and Theta Healer, Kathleen's lifelong passion for walking, hiking, and running complements her spiritual journey. Her debut book explores the enchanting realities and spiritual wisdom encountered on her transformative pilgrimage along the Camino Santiago de Compostela, sharing her unique insights with fellow pilgrims.

• Website: www.WisdomOnTheCamino

• John Lennon and other singers from the 1960s and 1970s

• Kathleen Israel shares her experience of dealing with anxiety by recognizing the importance of proper breathing. She explains that anxiety often arises due to insufficient oxygen reaching the brain. By focusing on deep belly breathing and ensuring her brain receives enough oxygen, she finds relief from fear and anxiety.

• Proper breathing plays a crucial role in managing emotions, as Kathleen Israel explains. When experiencing anxiety, she noticed that shallow breathing deprived her brain of oxygen, intensifying fear. By consciously focusing on deep, belly breathing and inhaling for a count of eight and exhaling for the same duration, she effectively replenishes oxygen levels in her brain, alleviating anxiety and restoring a sense of calm.

• Book: Gift From The Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh

Kathleen Israel shared a story about her son's experience with bullying. Her son, Peter, was often targeted and made to feel miserable by his classmates. One incident involved a group of altar boys who tricked Peter into thinking he was needed for an important role, only to mock him later. Despite such mistreatment, Kathleen encouraged Peter to pray for those who bullied him. Over time, the situation changed. Kathleen confronted the ringleader, Mike, who subsequently started treating Peter with kindness. As Peter grew older, his friends stood by him and included him in their activities. Kathleen believes that responding to bullies with prayer and unconditional love can help alleviate their pain and transform relationships. She emphasizes that unconditional love is a powerful force in the face of adversity.

• Kathleen Israel's life experience has endowed her with valuable wisdom. She shares insights on the importance of conscious breathing, recognizing the impact of oxygen on the brain and its role in managing anxiety. Her journey emphasizes self-care and the transformative power of mindfulness.

• 489 Relax With St. Francis of Assisi and Peace Troubadour, James Twyman

Keagen Hadley is a Doctor of Occupational Therapy, a psychiatric and neurological clinical researcher, and an Amazon Bestselling author who specializes in using psychological treatments such as acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) with clients. He is an expert at helping people deal with the psychological impacts of sports Injury. He has a deep understanding of the interventions and knows how emotional distress can interfere with rehabilitation, daily activities, and overall quality of life. As an athlete, he tore both ACLs playing college and semi-professional football. This experience made him acutely aware of the struggles associated with ACL injuries and the various issues that can arise psychologically due to this condition.

• Website: www.KeagenHadley.com

• Dr. John Delony

• Mindfulness has changed how I deal with my emotions. Now I actually sit with them and focus on them. Mindfulness almost minimizes them. It is the same thing I do if I feel a panic attack or heavy anxiety coming on.

• One practice that I got into as I was getting out of those difficult situations is my therapist had me take a cold shower. It's not for the reasons you might think; there's a plethora of benefits of cold showers, but actually it's very uncomfortable. But you still have to be able to practice your breathing during that experience. [Cold showers create a situation where you begin deep breathing].

• Book: Rebound: Train Your Mind To Bounce Back Stronger From Sports Injuries by Carrie Jackson Cheadle and Cindy Kuzma

• There are lots of forms of bullying. I work with a very specific kind of torment, whether you want to call it bullying or not. So these injuries, whether it be an Achilles tear, a Tommy John injury or an overhead throwing injury, or ACL injuries, as I said, they're very long recovery periods. (Note: Tommy Johns Surgery is typically used for UCL tears that happened due to overuse rather than a single traumatic event)

• Move On Using Faith and Healing; David McClam

Stephen James is founder of Raw Attraction Magazine, the Heart Initiation Academy, and The Steve Experience. He tells about his journey towards healing his heart and aligning with his divine plan. This conversation covers topics such as the definition of mindfulness, the role of God in his life, and his experiences with psychedelics and trauma healing. Steve emphasizes the importance of being mindful of the connection to one's higher self, heart, soul, and God, and shares his experiences with body-based and somatic-based practices, stand-up comedy, and sacred sexuality. He also recommends book and music resources for mindfulness.

[show-notes-bio]

• Website: www.Heartinitiationacademy.com

[show-notes-contact]

 [00:00:57] Steve James defines mindfulness as an integrated version of oneself, cultivating a deep embodied present awareness of what is going on in the body and reality, and being mindful of the connection to the higher self, heart, soul, and God.

[00:03:24] Steve James talks about how he discovered the concept of divine plan and divine self when he was around 28-29 years old, after experiencing consecutive heartbreaks and going down a broken path. He also shares how God plays a role in his divine plan.

[00:09:42] Steve James talks about how he felt the need to heal the trauma trapped inside his body, which he learned from Dr. Peter Levine's book, "Waking the Tiger". He also shares how he worked through his traumas and hasn't had any experience with substances since 2018.

[00:10:45] Steve James talks about his journey towards healing his psychological and nervous system through body-based and somatic-based practices.

[00:11:43] Steve James explains the concept of the True Divine Self, which involves healing the inner child, inner masculine, and inner feminine, and how it can help navigate gender issues and achieve balance.

[00:17:20] Steve James shares his reasons for moving to Prague, including financial and personal reasons, and how he finds the city to be architecturally and culturally balanced.

[00:20:53] Steve James talks about his experience with standup comedy, the nerves that come with it, and his style of comedy.

[00:24:09] Steve James discusses his ongoing journey towards his ecstatic rebirth, which involves sacred sexuality, shamanism, and letting go of wounds.

[00:29:15] Steve James shares his childhood experience of being bullied and how mindfulness could have made a difference. He also talks about a collective bullying situation.

[00:30:12 - 00:34:03] Steve James talks about the importance of justice and truth from a mindful perspective, including the need to speak out against abuse and bullying, and to push for healing and justice on a societal level.

[00:34:18 - 00:35:25] Steve James discusses the influence of his father on his mindfulness journey, and how mindfulness helps him deal with his emotions by navigating the map of consciousness and getting to neutral.

[00:36:41 - 00:39:54] Steve James recommends two books related to mindfulness: "Man's Search for Meaning" by Victor Frankl and "The Gospel of Thomas," and suggests using music apps to help with mindfulness and creativity. He also emphasizes the importance of self-care, self-love, and compassion during the current "great awakening" and chaotic times.

[show-notes-influence]

(00:34:43) - Well, when you have the mindful structure that we mentioned about the map of consciousness, and you're aware of that map of consciousness, right? Then you can navigate your emotions much easier because you are going to get to neutral and then love more quickly because you know where they are. And the scary, like, okay, I'm angry now and let's get to neutral as quickly as possible so I can at least look at the circumstance in a different way. Um, and it's fine to be angry even if we're the most enlightened being in the, the universe. I mean, Christ was still angry at the money changes and everything else that was going on on this planet. You, you still can be angry, but get to neutral and then make a decision.

[show-notes-emotions]

(00:35:37) - Regarding breathing, I will mention the neurologist, Andrew Huberman. He was talking about it on a video, and this double breath in with the nose and then out.  with the mouth when you are slightly stressed. He talks about it from a neurological perspective, but, it essentially decreases the stress in whatever situations. You are having a heated conversation with someone, and you want to calm down a little bit. They don't even particularly know you're doing it, or maybe they do notice, but it doesn't really matter. It deregulates your system and makes you calm, and calms the nervous system.

[show-notes-breathing]

• Book: Man's Search For Meaning by Victor Frankl

[show-notes-resources]

(00:29:15) - Well, I was thinking about this question cause you put it on the email before and it depends which situation. I'll probably give you two situations. One from my childhood and then one collective one. Uh, so the childhood, my, I think every kid at my school was bullied in, in some sense by just looking back, it seemed like even the big guys, which I was sort of probably a middle rung, had my humor. People kind of liked me quite, uh, most people were like me cuz of my humor and, and, um, my sporting abilities. But there were still a group who were so-called friends who decided to write a book of hate about me and got everyone to sign it, which was my whipping against the wall as most other, some of my other guys were thrown into trash cans and got, and like, you know, had worse dealings than me.

(00:39:54) - Well, as we step deeper into this, I think we're, as collectively going through a great awakening at the moment in, in 2023, and this is a great thing that Bruce is doing, is this a mindfulness podcast that because we, we need to take more self-care, we need to take more self-loving actions to us as we go through this great awakening. As things unfold, the truth unfolds more and more. We have to become more self-loving and, uh, compassionate to our fellow humans. So every moment that we spend taking care of ourselves means that we are overflowing our cup to, uh, fill others. So I think that's, uh, probably the most mindful way I could end this, because there, I think I see more chaos coming on the horizon and, uh, it's gonna be a time to, uh, navigate your ship, uh, to the, the shores of calm waters, um, and calm land, uh, via self-awareness, self-love, self-responsibility, and mindfulness.

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Stephanie Jordan is an author, teacher, and speaker whose focus is on boundaries for healthy relationships. She has recently published a book entitled, Believing In Boundaries, where she explains with real-life examples how boundaries can be used to improve your life. In this biblically-based book, Stephanie helps you understand and establish boundaries so you can have healthier relationship experiences. In addition to her passion for reading, writing and painting, Stephanie has also been an enthusiastic cosmetologist for 24 years.

• Website: www.TheStephanieJordan.com

• My mentor, Betsy

• Anger is my favorite emotion. I tend to lean toward anger first. Mindfulness has made me much more aware that anger can be a great propeller. I feel anger has the most power behind it to create movement.

• I'm learning more and more about deep breath. I'm currently in the process of writing about my widowhood journey.

• Book: The Bible

• One of my twins was picking on my daughter.  And he had already stepped on her in the hallway and she had cried to us. A little bit later that night, there was a scuffle again between the boys. And my, my son had hurt the twin. And I was like, What is going on? And he said, Well, he hurt her again.

• Building A Love-Filled Relationship

Aaron Hines is a husband, father, author, and entrepreneur.  Aaron lives west of Nashville TN in the small town of Bellevue with his wife Amanda and two sons, Lincoln and Stetson. He played all 4 years of High School football and spent two years in College playing an offensive and defensive line at Lambuth University. He graduated from the University of Tennessee at Martin with an undergraduate degree in Health and Human Performance and also has an M.S. in Exercise Physiology from Florida State University.

Aaron owns and operates a fitness facility in Franklin TN, where he helps change the lives of those individuals 45+ who want to lose weight, move pain-free, and do things they didn’t think were possible.

He also spends a lot of time and energy helping young athletes reach their full potential by teaching them the fundamentals of being a great person and athlete on and off the field. He has worked with professional athletes and retired professional athletes over the years. His vast experience interning at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Volunteering at the Vanderbilt Dayani Center, and working in the corporate setting has molded him into the person he is today.

He was voted one of the Top Personal Trainers in all of Nashville in 2020 and was featured in the Franklin Lifestyle Magazine in 2019. He can be reached at Premierperformancetrainer.com, 615-819-5186, or [email protected]

• Website: www.premierperformancetrainer.com

• His Dad.

• I guess ways to kind of re-evaluate mindfulness or just try meditation or whatever I tend to choose on a daily basis. I think if I didn't have those things, I would be probably all over the place; I get pretty hot-headed.

• I wish I did it more. That's my thought. I gotta control my breathing, I get anxious about a lot of things. And so I found that closing my eyes and counting 15 to 20 is super helpful. It kind of releases those things that get me bent out of shape.

• Book: The Athletic Advantage: 10 Lessons To Becoming A Premier Athlete Aaron Hines, Jamie Gifford, et al.

• I will say that I am semi-bullied. We lived on an Indian reservation for five years. And we were kind of the minority there. So it's very, very few Caucasian people. With that, I guess if I were smarter, a little bit brighter, I was young I was in middle school so it was more of a kind of ticked-off moment.

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Don Colliver is a teacher, speaker, writer, and comedian with over twenty-five years of experience helping audiences utilize the power of authenticity, vulnerability, and connection. Don teaches public speaking at Google and speaks for companies including Adobe, Cisco, and Medtronic. He toured as a Clown for contemporary circus Spiegelworld, performed with the Blue Man Group, and is listed in the Cirque du Soleil performer database. Don graduated from Boston University and lives in the San Francisco Bay Area. When he’s not helping speakers engage with their audiences, he can be found hiking through the redwoods. You can reach Don at www.winktechtalks.com.

• Company: Colliver Communications

• Alan Watts

• Mindfulness has helped me deal with my emotions because I can physicalize them. And I love picturing where fear sits and describing it. That is very helpful in removing some of the motivation that it puts through my body.

• Breathing is the most important thing when it comes to presenting. And it's not what very technical people want to hear, because it feels very esoteric and not heavy. But the fact is, it's made the biggest difference in me like deep breathing box breathing, fire to big presentations.

• Book: Can't Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds By David Goggins

• I was bullied a little bit in elementary school. And I think if grown up, Don's brain was back there it becomes so much about the bully, I'm so much more focused on that person. And what do they want?

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