The Aware Show

How is it possible to heal after experiencing unimaginable horror, such as the loss of a child? Today’s guest, Scarlett Lewis, experienced profound tragedy when her 6-year-old son, Jesse Lewis, was killed during the Sandy Hook Elementary school shooting massacre in December of 2012. The first few days were so incredibly painful, she didn’t know if she could survive. She did not know if she could ever heal from that level of a broken heart. She shares the story of meeting with another woman who lost her child during a different event, and how angry this parent was 20 years later. She made a choice that she needed to model a different way of being for her older son, J.T. Scarlett talks about how pain is an incredible catalyst for growth. She did not want Jesse’s murder to define her. She found an opportunity of connection through pain. As difficult as it was, she learned to choose love and healing. Two weeks after the tragedy, it was Christmas. Scarlett decided to take her son JT to Disney World for a healing trip. She talks about numerous miraculous messages she received which she believed were from Jesse. There she experienced miracles and micro-moments of joy. Scarlett suggests practicing being present with the ones you love and the importance of recognizing that time. She found a message that Jesse wrote on the chalkboard at home shortly before his murder. The words were “Nurturing, Healing, Love.” She determined that she would spend her life being part of this message and being part of the solution. She believes we are all responsible for what is going on in society. We must realize that we have to be the change that we want to see. Once you make that determination, you realize you are no longer the victim and can be motivated. There’s so much we can do. With every step, you gain self-worth and self-esteem, and it makes you want to do more.   We are not born with essential life skills. We must learn them. There is so much bullying in today’s society by children and adults, especially on social media. We don’t have the skills to manage our anger and pain. She decided to create a healing movement and her program “Choose Love” is now in more than 14,000 schools worldwide. She talks about how pain has a purpose in our lives, yet somehow, we are so afraid of it, we ignore it or push it away. People are living in a state of perpetual PTSD. People can be so negative because of this. Scarlett talks about the concept of PTG or Post-Traumatic Growth. We can grow through difficulty and her organization teaches how to do this through a powerful formula. When a child experiences difficulty, they can learn through it. They can become curious and can learn to choose love over fear. Scarlett has also interviewed other school shooters.  She is trying to understand their mindsets to find out what is needed. Even though their actions were monstrous, Scarlett recognizes that they are actually human beings in pain. She wanted to ask them the very tough question of “How did we, as a society, fail you?” as she knows they were not born as a murderer. They have so much pain, and so little social and emotional competence, that they had to take it out on others. She is trying to understand what we could do to prevent this, and part of it is a matter of belonging. Everyone wants to be seen. Through her “Choose Love” organization, Scarlett took the tragedy and turned it into an opportunity to build a culture of love, resilience, and forgiveness. She is the author of several books including, “Nurturing, Healing, Love” and “From Sandy Hook to the World: How the Choose Love Movement Transforms Lives.” This is Part 1 of the interview.  Info: ChooseLoveMovement.org.

Does it seem like we are seeing more and more anger and rage lately? Do you or someone you know have issues with anger or managing emotions? Whether through road rage, yelling, political divide, or even outward violence, people seem more upset than ever. What’s underneath it all? According to today’s guest, Ian Brennan, anger masks fear, frustration, and sadness. As an author and expert in conflict resolution, today he discusses ways to help cool anger.  He has been involved with the Betty Ford Center as well as other addiction treatment places and also talks about how drug use and alcohol can compound the rage. Ian describes how some people are willing to injure themselves and others, or even willing to die, because of their unresolved anger. They may feel threatened. They may also be in denial. Many angry people deny that they are mad at all. Anger can cover up any type of fear. One way to begin to resolve the situation is to ask people how they feel. The more specific they can be, the better. An angry person tends to be more controlling, or even a perfectionist, as they want assurances. Those expectations can lead to tremendous disappointments. They may light up quickly. Surrender is a way to help – it's an acceptance of where things are. Frequent and brief conversations about emotions can help also to avoid outbreaks of rage. You can start by asking “What” questions, rather than “Why.” Begin by asking the angry person, “What happened?” then lead into “What do you feel?” When you intervene, these questions interrupt patterns. This can lead to constructive conversation and communication. It may help them to feel empowered and less controlled so they can offer information. You can also ask questions starting with “How,” such as “How can I help?” By using needs-based communication people can begin to feel heard. This can then lead to more solution-oriented conversations and help to diffuse the anger. Ian has taught classes on anger management for several decades and has brought his patented high-energy, lightning-speed delivery presentations to more than 100,000 people across the USA.  During his many years on staff in locked emergency-psychiatric facilities in Oakland, CA (the job rated as the most dangerous in CA for assault), his teachings spread by word-of-mouth until he was soon regarded as an expert on the topics of anger management, conflict resolution, solution-oriented communication, and violence prevention. In 2011 he published his first book, “Anger Antidotes: How Not to Lose Your S#&!.” Info: https://violenceprevention.us

Do you sometimes feel like your confidence is lacking? Do you have fears around public speaking? Are you afraid to share your work publicly? Many of these limiting beliefs reside in our subconscious. Lisa continues the conversation with our guest today, Shelly Lefkoe, who talks about how these beliefs can be eliminated so you can feel more empowered. Shelly and her husband, Morty Lefkoe, started the Lefkoe Institute based in the San Francisco area and have helped thousands of people worldwide eliminate limitations. Shelly explains how two people can be in the exact same situation but look at it in completely different ways, based on the meaning they give it. The most common belief Shelly’s clients have is the idea that they are not good enough. This belief causes them to overwork or even procrastinate. There’s a fear of being judged. Shelly discusses how you can get rid of your negative beliefs by acknowledging your patterns. She further explains how patterns happen over and over. If you get rid of a belief, you can get rid of a pattern. This works with relationships, money challenges, workaholism, and much more, as beliefs are formed in the past. The meaning you give an event is formed at the moment it occurs. The meaning is what causes the emotions. She talks about her book “Hitting the Wall: Eliminate the Beliefs That Sabotage Your Business and Your Life” which she co-authored with Vahan Yepremyan. Shelly has helped thousands of clients worldwide recreate their lives by ridding themselves of a wide variety of challenges including phobias, relationships that don’t seem to work, violence, procrastination, unwillingness to confront people, health and wellness issues, and sexual dysfunction. Her clients have eliminated emotional patterns such as fear, hostility, shyness, anxiety, depression, worry about what people think of them, and a negative sense of themselves. She helps people develop confidence and feel empowered. This is Part 2 of the interview. Info: EliminateBeliefs.com and LefkoeInstitute.com

Do you often ask yourself questions like “Who am I?” or “Why am I here?” Today’s guest is spiritual teacher and author Gangaji who discusses her book “The Diamond in Your Pocket – Discover Your True Radiance.” Gangaji talks about how we are naturally conditioned to look outside of ourselves for food and shelter, so we continue to look there for answers. Eventually we discover that we cannot find peace and fulfillment outside and we need to turn inward. We seek and acquire knowledge, but some things can only be found inside. We can stop looking outside for the next book, the next teacher, the next escape. It’s so simple, yet revolutionary. Inside there’s potential for great creativity. She explains that it’s no longer “seeking” but “discovering.” It’s impossible to find lasting happiness outside. All pleasure fades, but lasting fulfillment can be found inside. Growing up in Mississippi, with the given birthname Toni Roberson, she felt something was missing in her life. She shares the story of finding her spiritual teacher Papaji. She is a very Western woman and never thought she would seek out a guru. She reached a point in her life where she realized she needed a teacher. She prayed and intended for one, then found herself in India six months later. Papaji was very welcoming. She recognized that this was the answer to her prayer. She found grace and radiance in his teachings. He suggested that she stop seeking and look inside for the truth. She was fearful to stop, as she thought she may lose what she had gained. She didn’t know what the outcome would be. He taught her to stop following the mind. If a thought arises, let it go. For a moment, turn your attention away from what you want. As she eventually did, she was overwhelmed with love and peace. She found peace and fulfillment exists already. She experienced stillness and it was scary at first. She learned to “see what is” and discover “what’s already here.” It’s our beingness. It’s consciousness. Some dislike what they see when they look inside. That’s all part of the process. Some people feel anguish or fear and other negative emotions. We suppress those feelings, or we can be in constant states of desire, looking for the next thing, and then the next. She suggests we just stop and take a moment. This takes vigilance, but then we can live life from that place. We can stop looking outside for satisfaction. So much energy is free. Gangaji also discusses the idea that “you are not who you think you are.” These thoughts continue and change. Stillness is beyond thought, but it’s your real self, your true self. Everything else is a story which can cause negative feelings. This Presence of “All That Is” is not something we have to “do” to experience. It’s crucial to realize we are in our thinking minds. We can experience this if we just “be.” It’s natural. Our minds will help us with survival. Peace is the nature of your heart. When there’s suffering, you must be present with the pain in your heart. She suggests that even though the whole body fights to survive, we can find peace in our hearts. We can discover it deeply after we get through the fear. It’s counter-intuitive, but it will pass. We can recognize that states come and go but inner “knowing” and stillness are always there. We can experience this peace. Gangaji teaches the willingness to learn that we are all connected. Destructive global events are tragic yet offer a way for us to discover the limitlessness of our own hearts. She also discusses the work she does within the prison environment, teaching people to learn to experience peace. We can all support one another. If we are willing to care, we can learn greater levels of love. Info: Gangaji.org.

Have you ever had the belief that you are not good enough? Have you ever thought that you are not talented enough, not smart enough, shouldn’t make mistakes, etc? Many of these beliefs reside in our subconscious. Would you like to eliminate those beliefs and learn to feel more confident and empowered? It’s possible, according to our guest today Shelly Lefkoe. She and her husband, Morty Lefkoe, started the Lefkoe Institute, a San Francisco area based firm whose mission is “to significantly improve the quality of life on the planet.” What does it mean to eliminate these limitations? Beliefs are statements about reality that we hold as truth. The purpose is to get rid of the patterns which drive our beliefs and our realities. Shelly explains that a pattern is observable. You can see when someone is feeling sad. You can see if someone is in an unhealthy relationship. The beliefs are actually causing the problem. Most people ask “why” to find the answers. Shelly explains that a better question is to ask “what.” For example, ask “What might I believe that has me doing this?” or “What can I do to change this?” We look at meanings and interpretations. Beliefs are the roots that keep the foundation of your life from being solid. Shelly explains that we actually think we “see” certain things. She uses as an example a person who passes you by and doesn’t say hello. This may cause you to believe that this person doesn’t like you. You may feel that you are not good enough. You believe this because you “saw” it happen. Anything that you can see always has a color, shape, and location. You can see specific people doing certain things and we give it meaning. This comes from our beliefs. When we learn to eliminate these beliefs, we can begin to be our true authentic selves. Self-worth is based on our beliefs. We can change and eliminate these beliefs. We can learn to change the meaning. If you want to do something immediate and powerful, look at the meaning in that moment. Shelly explains that all meaning comes from our minds. Events have no inherent meaning. Any time you have a negative emotion, you can feel it, then you can consider what meaning you gave the event. Meaning is made up by our creative minds. You can still have feelings and emotions, but you can re-frame the meaning you give them. This is Part 1 of the interview. Info: EliminateBeliefs.com and LefkoeInstitute.com

Would you like to learn how to tap into your intuition when it comes to matters of finance? Would you like to be less stressed around money issues? Do you sometimes have a challenging time making decisions? Lisa continues the conversation today with our guest Ken Honda. Ken is the author of the international bestseller, “Happy Money: The Japanese Art of Making Peace With Your Money” in which he shared thoughts about how we can create a life of abundance by changing our relationship with money. Today he is back to discuss his new novel “True Wealth — 9 Lessons From a Grandfather on Happiness and Abundance.” Ken shares techniques for tapping into our intuition and asks, how do you feel when someone offers you a project? Is your heart open and you feel excited? Or is your heart closing down? This is a key indicator. Intuition comes in so many ways by tuning into your five senses. Once you set a goal, look for synchronicities to start happening. When you hear your intuition and guidance, you need to follow it. Ken believes that you must first make a firm decision. You must make a choice and refuse other options. It takes determination, then suddenly this energy opens new doors and new pathways. If you take risks, you can move forward. Ken talks about how what you are afraid of holds the most energy. He shares a story about wanting to become a comedian and how much courage this will take. It’s scary, but very exciting. If you make a bold decision, the energy will move you toward your dreams. Ken also talks about how various cultures around the world have different views of money. He discusses how Americans do not like to talk openly about money, but they will talk about purpose. It’s such an important subject. Ken recommends learning about the Japanese concept of “Ikigai.” This involves taking small steps toward finding your life purpose. One door opens to another and eventually you find your life's calling. He also talks about making quick decisions. Do your best and know you’ll be guided. Tune into your intuition. If your intuition is cloudy, then your decision-making will be unclear as well. It starts with getting in touch with what you want. Ken suggests getting crystal clear about what we really want in life. It can be scary because it involves change. Ken further discusses two types of true wealth – visible and invisible assets. Invisible assets can be built on a strong foundation of emotions. When you know what you want you can plan. We can look for what we want, based on our perspective. By tuning into our five senses, we can acquire true wealth. There’s no right or wrong. It’s based on what you want. You can do things out of negativity or out of love. Ken teaches by using the Zen style of asking questions. What do you love to do? True wealth is having freedom. Ken also talks about the “arigato” money technique that he learned from his mentor – it’s a cycle of appreciation. He suggests thanking the money that comes in and thanking the money as it goes out. If you practice every day, gratitude and appreciation will grow, while finances will flow. This is Part 2 of the interview. For info about Ken Honda’s latest book, “True Wealth,” pls visit: kenhonda.com/truewealth.

Do you sometimes experience stomach issues after you eat? Are you familiar with enzymes and why are they so important to our bodies? Today on the show Lisa talks with Lita Lee, Ph.D. She is a chemist, enzyme therapist, nutritionist, author, and lecturer who has been in private practice for several decades. Her book is “The Enzyme Cure.” Dr. Lee talks about plant enzymes – what they are, how they can help us, and how they may be the most overlooked link to our good health. The right plant enzymes can help reverse asthma, cancer, diabetes, herpes, kidney stones, menopausal symptoms, weight problems, and dozens of other common disorders. Dr. Lee also discusses the dangers of microwaving food and how the radiation alters the vitamins and nutrients in the food. She talks about fluoride in our waters and how that causes disease. She also addresses diabetes and explains how white sugars are detrimental to our health, as well as why there is an epidemic of thyroid disorders. She suggests eating raw organic foods, coconut oil, and whole foods, which are all excellent for our health. She asks us to find out what enzyme we may be lacking and then suggests taking a multiple digestive enzyme. Dr. Lee received a doctorate in chemistry in 1967 from the University of Colorado in Boulder and spent the early years of her career as a research chemist at SRI International in Menlo Park, California. Her interest in nutrition, environmental health, and natural organic foods led her from the chemistry laboratory into clinical practice in 1984. Dr. Lee’s strong scientific background qualifies her work as an enzyme therapist, particularly her specialty of developing nutritional protocols for balancing body chemistry, with a focus on enzyme nutrition, hormonal balancing, diet, and protection from environmental toxins.   Info: LitaLee.com

Do you sometimes feel stress when it comes to money and finances? Do you often feel lack and you’d like to learn how to earn more? Our guest today Ken Honda is the author of the international bestseller, “Happy Money: The Japanese Art of Making Peace With Your Money” in which he shared thoughts about how we can create a life of abundance by changing our relationship with money. Today he is back to discuss his new novel “True Wealth — 9 Lessons from a Grandfather on Happiness and Abundance.” Ken shares that he has had incredible mentors, so he wanted to put their stories together in one book where he talks about the importance of synchronicity, action, intuition, and more. He was inspired by the best-selling book, “The Celestine Prophecy.” When you look at synchronicities, they can be direct messages or intentional messages from God. His book “True Wealth” talks about the “Cost of Fear.” If you are afraid of the future, or fearful of success, you may not have an amazing life. Many people choose security, rather than facing their fears and going for their dreams. People tend to wait for “someday.” Why postpone fun and enjoyment? We can actually do these things now. Ken’s father was a successful accountant, so Ken was able to be around those clients from a very early age. He would ask money questions and is very comfortable talking about money and finance. He also learned how money could cause so many problems. Money can lift you or bring you down. Money can be happy or unhappy. Happy money gives you joy when you spend it. You can be generous. The more money Ken receives, the more money he can give. Happy Money can come from all over the world. It can circulate. You send money out, knowing that it will come back. Ken suggests having a chat with money. Ask, “Where did you come from? And where do you want to go?” Ken has developed a relationship with money. When he was younger, he had a difficult time raising his fee as a consultant. A very successful client raised his fee for him. Ken recognizes that he was protected by kind people and felt like he never struggled for money. He had an excellent reputation and feels very fortunate. He is financially independent and feels he can be very generous and help others. He believes in cultivating what you love, and it will not feel like work. You can be creative. There are only two problems with money. You either do not make enough, or else you spend too much. Financially challenged people have both problems. They get paid low and spend too much. Wealthy people do not spend frivolously. If you want to be successful with money and financially free, you need to learn about yourself and your habits. You need to develop higher self-worth and higher self-esteem to get paid more. According to Ken, the economy doesn’t really matter. It’s important to work out your inner issues with money. He also discusses how if you have higher self-worth, you will begin to attract opportunities where people will pay you more, as you are valuing your time. If you “demand more,” people will not necessarily pay you more. Higher self-esteem comes from being of service for a long time, and as a result, you will receive a higher rate of pay. Clients will appreciate you. Ken believes if you give of yourself first, and strive to do quality work, the universe will respond in a positive way. It is about giving and receiving. This is Part 1 of the interview. For info about Ken Honda’s latest book, “True Wealth,” pls visit: kenhonda.com/truewealth For info about his upcoming FREE class, pls visit: kenhonda.com/humanity

It seems there are more shows, podcasts, documentaries, and books than ever before about ETs, UFOs, UAPs, and alien contact. How has the phenomenon of aliens affected our consciousness? Why is it so prevalent today? Our esteemed guest today is John Edward Mack, M.D., a Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer and a professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. He won the Pulitzer Prize in 1977 for “A Prince of Our Disorder,” his biography of T. E. Lawrence. Dr. Mack is the founding director of the Program for Extraordinary Experience Research (PEER) and today he  discusses how the phenomenon of alien experiences has affected the consciousness of our society. Dr. Mack embraced a worldview inspired by elements of spiritual and philosophical traditions which hold that we are all connected to one another. The theme of “connection” to other life was explored most boldly in his study of men and women who reported that recurrent alien encounter experiences had affected the way they regarded the world, including a heightened sense of spirituality and environmental concern. Dr. Mack recorded the experiences of people who were subjected to intelligence profoundly different from our own. He noted that these are healthy, normal people. They are credible and there are hundreds of thousands of people who have had these experiences. They have encountered other multiple dimensions. We are stuck in our restricted three-dimensional consciousness. Dr. Mack has shifted his consciousness and realized that Native People around the world are familiar with this phenomenon. They have had encounters with these beings. What is the difference between spirits and these extra-terrestrial beings? The spirit world is abstract. The “real world” is a physical world, but can spirit manifest as material? Dr. Mack has worked with diverse cultures around the world who have had these experiences. As a psychiatrist, he takes a thorough history of his patients, then evaluates them. Patients do not want to believe that this may have happened. They don’t understand the mystery of these experiences. This pattern of thinking shatters the view that we may be protected. But this is not the view of the indigenous people. It is a Western view to rule out any outer intelligence. This is shattering to the view of the experiencers. Western culture believes that we have control. This shows that we do not. It’s very threatening to our sense of security. If experiencers believe they have been subjected to aliens, they believe they are victims and their consciousness may be restricted. But if they can go into their fear, and experience it, staying with the intense energy, they will access another level of consciousness. It is possible for them to pass through the trauma and experience a profound connection to God/Source and other dimensions, even the beings themselves.  There is tremendous energy involved in these encounters. Dr. Mack discusses various types of beings that his patients have described. They present a dire warning about the impacts humans are having on the environment. The fact that these beings do not appear to us in a way that is possible to prove from a 3-D level of science, does not disprove that we are being visited. Our culture is becoming more and more aware of this phenomenon and the possibilities presented that we may not be alone in this universe. Info: www.johnemackinstitute.org.