What keeps you going when the cameras are off, the lights go down, and you're alone with your thoughts?
That's the question at the heart of Part 2 of my conversation with Jeff Johnston of Living Undeterred.
This episode takes our conversation into some unexpectedly deep territory—exploring resilience, grief, self-compassion, spirituality, human connection, mindfulness, music, mental health, and finding hope during life's darkest moments.
Jeff opens up about how his psychedelic experiences changed the way he viewed himself and helped him confront the person he had been hardest on for much of his life: himself. He describes learning to step outside his own ego, develop greater self-compassion, and recognize that he had been carrying enormous expectations and judgment.
Then comes one of the most powerful stories of the conversation.
Jeff recalls a night scuba diving with his son Seth in Saint Lucia. During a safety stop, the divers turned off their lights—and in the darkness, Jeff suddenly heard the distant calls of whales.
The experience became a profound metaphor for life.
What if we're so focused on where we're pointing our own spotlight that we're missing everything happening around us?
Jeff realized that he had spent portions of his life focused on achievement, money, expectations and his own internal struggles while potentially missing the things that mattered most. He now encourages people to occasionally “turn off the flashlight” and simply listen—to the world, to other people, and to themselves.
We also talk about the surprising power of music, why certain sounds can instantly change our emotional state, the importance of allowing ourselves to be who we are without constantly worrying about how other people perceive us, and why Jeff believes lived experience and human connection can be incredibly powerful.
But eventually, our conversation comes back to the question that matters most:
When you're alone and nobody is watching, what keeps you going?
Jeff's answer is simple but incredibly powerful: he reminds himself that he has survived 100% of every worst thing that has ever happened to him.
He talks about hope, faith, journaling, resilience, impermanence, and believing that his best days can still be ahead of him.
This episode isn't about pretending that life doesn't hurt.
It's about recognizing that the hard moments don't last forever—and neither do the good ones.
It's about learning to be kinder to ourselves.
It's about paying attention.
It's about human connection.
And sometimes, it's simply about waiting long enough for the darkness to pass.
If you've ever struggled with grief, loss, loneliness, mental health, self-doubt, or simply wondered how you're going to get through the next difficult chapter of your life, there's something in this conversation for you.
Because sometimes the most important thing you can do is keep going.
🎙️ The Raw Vibe Podcast
Real People. Real Stories. Real Conversations.
This is Part 2 of my conversation with Jeff Johnston.
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