The Language of Mindfulness - A Podcast on Conscious Communication by Brett Hill

Judgement is a natural thing and we need it to simply function, but when and how does it get in the way of seeing people clearly? What can we mindfully do about that? How do you practice being non-judgmental? In this episode, I talk about the difficult problem of judgment and how to practice being less judgemental, one of the pillars of mindfulness.

For some, a mindfulness meditation practice is not the best approach. But how can you tell? Is it normal to get uncomfortable doing such a practice, and should you keep doing it? These and many other questions are addressed in this episode, along with advice and practices you can use anytime, anywhere to learn to have more mindful moments in your life without meditation. You can watch this episode on youtube as well. You'll find a beginning meditation blueprint available for free at https://languageofmindfulness.com/now  

There are few skills more useful than skilled listening. In this episode, I explain a technique that has been immensely helpful in my personal and professional life.  This can help you defuse conversations that are about to blow, cool down temperatures when the lid is already off, and connect authentically to people in a deeper way in your personal and professional life. Check it out!

Meet Megan Sweet, a woman on a mission to help educators be more present in the classroom and resilient in their lives through mindfulness and self-care.  Educators are overworked and stressed, especially in these trying times. Megan has stepped up to help deliver tools, training, and advocacy, to support teachers 

Megan has a doctoral degree in Educational Leadership and is passionate about equity, mindfulness, and the power of love to heal our world. She has 25 years in education as a teacher, school administrator, and school district leader.  She's the author of Your 3 Eyes (Intellect, Insight, and Intuition) and is on a mission to create a more equitable and inclusive education system by using its greatest assets—the people.  You can connect with Megan at  Your3eyes.com

If you'd like to learn how to start or deepen a mindfulness practice, see How to Start a Mindfulness Meditation Practice

Stay Present!

Brett

In the episode, I provide a guided meditation that helps you access a very powerful resource - your own wisdom and knowledge. We all have had rich lives in many dimensions. Victories and celebrations. Losses and disappointments. A LIFETIME of learning. How much of this knowledge, from your own direct experience - do you bring into the moments of your life? This meditation helps you access your own depth of experience and wisdom that can only be earned through direct experience - and bring that knowledge and experience forward into now. From this place, you then look out of the landscape of your life and engage from an enriched, resourced, informed place. Use this technique to help you feel more resourced, connected, and resilient. If you want help with this or other techniques and practices of this sort, schedule a free getting acquainted session with me at languageofmindulness.com/coaching.

In this episode, I talk with the brilliant Claire Parsons of Brilliant Legal Mind (https://brilliantlegalmind.com/​). You'll hear how the stress of motherhood drove her to try meditation to help her manage. Then she explored mindfulness and the benefits were so great, she went all in. Now, she's a leader in organizing, advocating, and teaching mindfulness and meditation in the legal profession.

She says "When we use the term “brilliant” we often mean “smart,” or “talented” or “insightful.” But the term has other meanings too. It can also refer to a very bright light or the clarity and cut of a diamond. Mindfulness practices have helped me keep my mind clear, sharp, and bright so I can better serve my clients and community."

You can find here at the website already listed, on Twitter @brillantlegalmind, and her great content on linked in at https://www.linkedin.com/company/brilliantlegalmind/

You can watch the interview on youtube as well!

In this episode you'll hear a story about how learned an important lesson: if you want people to hear you, let them know you care before you tell them what you know.  This is a very powerful way to help you connect with people you may not know very well, and yet be heard when you have something to say that might be sensitive to hear. To use this technique, you need to be mindful first! (To get started with a mindfulness practice, see  languageofmindfulness.com/now).  People have good radar for those who are just giving advice to elevate themselves vs legit trying to be helpful from a caring place. So, when you feel the urge to offer advice, insight, or reflection - take a break and connect to why you want to. Then, if it's real, express your caring first. It matters. It changes the conversation and helps you have better, closer connections. 

Nick and I have a great time in this conversation, which you can also see on youtube . He explains how he moved into being a mindset coach by getting real with what he had to offer and getting over his own judgments that were holding him back. He now helps people get past their own stories to help them step into expressing their authentic lives and living fuller, more meaningful lives.

After 11 years as a leader in the fitness industry and owning a gym in NYC, Nick Pags stepped out of the fitness scene and shifted his attention to coaching the mindset of high performers. Even the most elite understand they have the capacity to evolve. Nick's incredible ability to unlock human potential through live coaching is unmatched. This past year he created his signature 8-week group mindset coaching experience, Project Limitless. After a life-altering move from NY to Brazil in the middle of the pandemic, Nick continues to exemplify what it means to live a limitless life. His gift is his ability to guide people to find the clarity they are looking for within themselves, consequently empowering them to create the life of their dreams. Nick has continued to virtually speak all over the world, inspiring and motivating people to thrive through the challenges of COVID-19.

Link to application to work with Nick - https://nickpagsllc.typeform.com/to/TGaQE7k7

In this episode, you'll hear from Sean Tyler Foley who has been acting in film and television since he was 6 years old and is an accomplished film and stage performer. Sean shares with us his amazing journey from child actor to a speaker coach and best-selling author. Having been on stages since childhood, he was comfortable in the lights. The notion of stage-fright was something that happened to other people. Till one day, unexpectedly, he experienced paralyzing stage-fright himself just before going on. Now he coaches others about how to embody their voice, make the room their own, and speak from the authority of your story. 

He has appeared in productions including Freddy Vs Jason, Door to Door, Carrie, and the musical Ragtime.  Tyler is passionate about helping others confidently take the stage and impact an audience with their stories. He is currently the Managing Director of Total Buy In and author of the #1 best-selling book The Power to Speak Naked.

You can reach Sean on his website at https://www.seantylerfoley.com/ and of course on social media.

https://www.instagram.com/seantylerfoley/

Make no mistake, this basic practice can change your life.

Lots of people ask me "how do I get started with Mindfulness?" so I recorded this mindfulness meditation for you to use as a blueprint to get you started. In order to apply the communication practices, I talk about at languageofmindfulness.com, you must first have a foundation in some kind of mindfulness practice. It's not hard and it doesn't take long to make a difference in your life. So why not try it? It matters and the science is in - mindfulness helps you in many ways, personally and professionally. 

In episode 11, I discussed many of FAQs and such as "what is mindfulness", "how often should I practice" and more. This episode is a guided mindfulness meditation to help you get started with a mindfulness meditation practice.  This exercise is "foundational" and is the beginning of many more to come. Yes, it's foundational, but it is superpowered. Like learning a C chord on a piano, you will use it a million times in your practice and it lays the foundation for many other lessons.

Stay present!

Brett