This week Sam and Jackson delve into the topic of body image. They discuss the various issues they have each had with their own bodies and how they have used mindfulness, and other changes in their thinking and perception, to improve the way they see the physical body. This also leads to conversations about impermanence and detachment. Sam ends the podcast this week with a mindfulness challenge that relates to the topic of body image.
Timestamps:
03:19: Sam’s quote of the week and what it means to him.
06:32: Jackson’s quote for the week and what it means for him.
10:27: Sam discusses why he believes it is important to detach from body image. He talks about the constant changes in the body and how we look to remedy these changes by altering the physical body rather than deal with the route issues.
13:22: Jackson adds onto Sam's answer by talking about the allocation of time and effort. One can choose to put their effort into bettering their physical body, or they can choose to put the effort into bettering themselves internally, with the latter being a more long term investment into one's self.
17:48: Jackson discusses his main issues with body image. He talks about his ongoing struggle between being anxious about eating, and then feeling as though he doesn't match the image society has of the attractive man.
22:53: Sam talks about the issues he has faced with regards to body image throughout his life. These started with a medical condition he was self conscious about and evolved into a very strict and regimented fitness and weight-lifting routine.
36:47: Sam goes into the mindfulness techniques and changes in thinking that have helped him detach from the idea of having a specific looking body.
54:44: Jackson discusses his change in thinking and perception of the world and how that has helped in his struggle with body image.
01:12:28: Sam talks about where he is now with his ideas about his body and progressing through ideas of impermanence and detachment.
01:24:48: Jackson goes into his current way of thinking towards body image and the ways he has changed his perspectives, as well as discussing the small struggles he still has with his physical body.
01:40:01: Describing the previous mindfulness integration challenge.
01:41:47: Jackson recaps his experience with the previous mindfulness challenge.
01:47:37: Sam recaps his experience with the previous mindfulness challenge.
01:55:55: New mindfulness integration challenge of the week presented by Sam:
When looking at a mirror, or when eating, contemplate the non-beautiful aspects of the body. Imagine your skin taken away and you can observe the inner workings of the body. For example see your liver existing and doing what it does, and realise that the liver is a part of who you really are.
Meta, Sam and Jackson.
Our eternal gratitude to Alexander Nakarada and Kevin MacLeod for the music used in this episode.