A Quest for Well-Being

Valeria Teles interviews Alberto Vezendi. The author of Awake, Arise, Or Be Forever Fallen!: Fall, Awakening, and Rise of a Young Anorexic Male. Of Hungarian origin, author and photographer Alberto Vezendi grew up in Spain, has lived in five countries and has visited more than forty. He holds a master's degree in conference interpretation, speaks five languages, and has spent more than two decades working for international organizations as a conference interpreter. In 2018, after twenty years of being somebody else's voice, he decided to be his own and embarked on a new journey as a writer and photographer. Alberto's work carries a message of hope for all: that a better life is possible, regardless of your situation, and that you already have everything you need to live it. It's all there in your mind. He inspires us to be ourselves, to take control of our lives, and live a purposeful existence, instead of living at the mercy of other people's wishes. However, none of that can ever be achieved until we learn to see our real self, and ultimately accept ourselves as we really are, and not as others expect us to be. After twenty long years of keeping it secret, Alberto reveals his painful personal experience as a young anorexic male in the hope that this will help others avoid falling into a trap created by their own mind. He also shows us that, even in our darkest moments, there shines an inner light that can guide us to happiness. That light within is called life, and it's the only light that can guide us to happiness. But it's a light that can only shine in the present, and Alberto challenges us to live fully that ephemeral moment we call "now" in which our entire lives takes place. Alberto went from having a carefree joy-filled life to falling into the depths of intellectual and physical misery, where death became his only companion, and then rose from his own ashes to become a better person than he ever was before. For twenty years, Alberto rode on a fairly tolerable rollercoaster of elation and melancholy. But one day something went wrong. He flew off his seat and began to plummet into the darkest abyss of his mind on a freefall of anorexic self-destruction. The disorder dragged him into the depths of abject misery, until he hit rock bottom. That was the turning point: he had to choose between construction and destruction, between living and dying. Alberto chose to live. Imminent death brought him back to life and also lifted the veil from his eyes, exposing to him his real self. He had to accept that the pathetic anorexic living corpse he saw before him was no one but himself. Not the false attractive image of himself he was imagining through the lens of more than twenty years of unremitting conditioning, combined with the much deeper distortion caused by anorexia, but his real self at last. Accepting himself as he really is meant the beginning of a new life — the first step in the long journey to rescue the wreck that Alberto had become, rehabilitate it into a man, and rise to a new existence of conscious bliss." There's no better time than now to break the spell that binds us to a life of zombie-like aimless roaming, like animated corpses; no better time to tear to pieces the bandage that blindfolds our eyes, preventing us from seeing the paradise we're living in; no better time to start living the life we were meant to live: a life of freedom, of bliss, of self-realization. "The magic is in you: just open your heart and you'll see it." -Alberto writes To learn more about Alberto Vezendi please visit his website: https://vezendi.com/ For Intro-free episodes: https://www.patreon.com/aquestforwellbeingpodcast Podcast Page: https://fitforjoy.org/podcast ** Bio intro and outro one by Heidi Lynn Peters.

Valeria interviews world-renowned consciousness teacher and healer Richard Moss. In this episode, Richard talks about conscious relationships, the power of presence and more Presence is associated with feelings of aliveness, connection, creativity, satisfaction, and flow. It is presence that frequently is the "difference that makes the difference" in your ability to enjoy life, heal emotional wounds, experience intimacy, and support the growth and transformation of others. This inspiring works he presents powerful principles, tools, and practices for transforming self-limiting patterns of thought and behaviors and for staying in the present even in the midst of very difficult feelings. Drawing from individual counseling sessions and utilizing practical exercises, Dr. Moss demonstrates how awareness and presence can be applied to support change in yourself and others, thereby creating a solid bridge between knowing and doing. Inside-Out Healing will help you become more available and fully connected with yourself and others, build a solid foundation for healing in all areas of your life, be better able to handle difficult situations with more elegance and ease, improve both personal and professional relationships, expand your capacity for genuine empathy and compassion, and experience more richness, gratitude, and fulfillment in your life and relationships. Are you ready for a shift of consciousness that liberates your mind and heart? Valeria Teles interviews Richard Moss. Richard is an internationally respected leader in the field of inner transformation, subtle body-mind dynamics, and living a path of conscious relationships. In 1977 Richard was a practicing medical doctor when he experienced a spontaneous spiritual illumination that awakened him to the multi-dimensional nature of human consciousness. This realization profoundly transformed his understanding of the roots of emotional suffering, and inspired him to explore the almost limitless human potential for growth and healing. Impelled by this opening, he released the practice of medicine to devote his life to mentoring individuals and couples whose lives have brought them to the point where they hunger to explore the mystery of their being. Whether called to his work by their soul's yearning to awaken and grow, or impelled by a health, career, or relationship crisis, his comprehensive and evolutionary approach to healing and forging loving relationships has transformed the lives of tens of thousands of people. He is particularly renowned for the innovative, experiential nature of his workshops and longer retreats that offer individuals direct experience of life-changing states of consciousness and provide them with very effective models and practices for on-going personal growth. He guides seminars and retreats in North and South America, Europe, and Australia, and is available for private mentoring for individuals at his home in Colorado. He has published 7 seminal books on his visionary approach to human evolution which have been translated into 6 languages. To learn more about Richard Moss please visit his website: https://richardmoss.com/ For Intro-free episodes: https://www.patreon.com/aquestforwellbeingpodcast Podcast Page: https://fitforjoy.org/podcast ** Bio intro and outro one by Heidi Lynn Peters.

"Three deep bows to Venerable Dhammananda Bhikkhuni. Venerable Mother, you gave me my life back. You have helped me heal and become the woman I am meant to be. You made my heart whole. Words cannot express how grateful I am to you for taking me under your wing. Your prophetic words of advice are an inspiration to me, a light out of the darkness. And I am not alone. You are a pillar of strength and a beacon of hope for so many women and men whose lives you have changed forever. Sadhu. Sadhu. Sadhu." – writes Cindy Rasicot Valeria interviews Cindy, the author of Finding Venerable Mother: A Daughter's Spiritual Quest to Thailand When Cindy Rasicot moves to Thailand with her husband and teenage son, she finds herself strangely adrift in a foreign culture, unprepared for the challenges she encounters there. On an impulse she signs up for a conference where she unexpectedly meets a Thai Buddhist nun, Venerable Dhammananda Bhikkhuni, who leads her on a spiritual journey from which there is no turning back. Along the way she discovers the beauty of the Thai people and culture. This soulful and engaging memoir is the story of one woman's journey of physical, emotional, and spiritual healing through her connection to a loving Buddhist teacher who fully accepts and nurtures her in a way her own mother never did. Finding Venerable Mother is a testimony to the power of faith, forgiveness, and love. Cindy Rasicot is a retired Marriage Family Therapist. Her life has been a spiritual journey that took on new dimensions when she and her family moved to Bangkok, Thailand for three years. There, she met her spiritual teacher, Venerable Dhammananda Bhikkhuni, the first fully ordained Theravada nun — an encounter that opened her heart and changed her forever. This deepening relationship led to writing her memoir, Finding Venerable Mother: A Daughter's Spiritual Quest to Thailand, which chronicles her adventures along the spiritual path. Sylvia Boorstein said about her book, Cindy Rasicot's loving account of her own transformation through knowing her is a joy to read." To learn more about Cindy Rasicot please visit her website: https://cindyrasicot.com/ For Intro-free episodes: https://www.patreon.com/aquestforwellbeingpodcast Podcast Page: https://fitforjoy.org/podcast ** Bio intro and outro one by Heidi Lynn Peters.

In Puja Yoga we acknowledge the divinity within each of us. Along with the many physical benefits of the practice, we also consciously encounter and nurture the flame of love and compassion within. We honor through yogic practice the divinity inside and all around us. Puja Yoga supports us in connecting with the divinity we all carry and through our practice we deepen our connections to inner peace, health, compassion, understanding, and love. Puja is a common name in India. This spiritual name was given to me when I lived at the Kripalu Center in Western Massachusetts, USA in the 1980's (at the time if was an Ashram or Spiritual Community). Puja means seeing the highest (the divine) in everything. In "The Puja Ceremony" the elements or earth, water, fire, air and space/ether are offered to the divinity within and around us. Traditionally rice, water, candles, flower petals and incense respectively are used to represent these elements. These are offered to a specific deity, incarnation of the divine or to the divinity in any person sprinkling each "element" in turn over a photo, portrait, living person, spiritual teacher or beloved. Valeria interviews Sue Flamm the author of Restorative Yoga: with Assists A Manual for Teachers and Students of Yoga ( in English and Spanish.) A work that guides us to master the art of teaching and practicing Restorative Yoga and deep relaxation. A recourse for yoga teacher training programs, seasoned teachers and students of yoga. Includes a chapter on postures for pregnancy from conception to after birth and sequences for a variety of conditions. Includes over 100 photos to help you to understand each posture and a set of simple yet profound assists to take your students into deeper relaxation. With decades of teaching yoga to every level of practitioner in the US, Guatemala, Mexico, Cuba, Europe, South Africa and China, Sue Flamm (Puja) delivers a clear, compassionate training manual to deepen your understanding of Restorative Yoga. Puja Sue Flamm (Susana), 500 ERYT, Best Selling Author, Yoga Teacher Trainer, and Certified Massage Therapist, has been teaching yoga for more than 30 years. She has led numerous trainings, retreats, workshops, and thousands of classes around the world. Sue took her first class in Transcendental Meditation at age 12, her first hatha yoga class at age 16 and has continued her study and practice throughout her rich and diverse life. She spent six years on staff at Kripalu Center as a yoga teacher, massage therapist, program director and cook. She has owned two yoga centers, managed a third and managed a pre post natal learning center in the northeast of the USA. Originally certified in Kripalu Yoga she went on to study Iyengar, Ashtanga and Anusara yoga styles. Sue draws from a wealth of teaching experience, personal practices and currently, offers certification training along with retreats and classes. Devoted to her students, her teaching encourages stress release, physical opening, strengthening of the muscular and organ systems, bridging interconnections within, deep relaxation and the cultivation of loving-kindness. She has taught in Mexico, Cuba, Guatemala, throughout Europe, China, South Africa and in the USA. She recently returned from a month-long pilgrimage in India. Sue speaks English and Spanish fluently, she presently lives between the mountains and the shores of the Mediterranean Sea in Valencia, Spain. To learn more about Sue Flamm please visit her website: https://www.sueflamm.com/ For Intro-free episodes: https://www.patreon.com/aquestforwellbeingpodcast Podcast Page: https://fitforjoy.org/podcast ** Bio intro and outro one by Heidi Lynn Peters.

There is a miracle in our bodies that is simply waiting for us to recognize it and receive it. The miracle is this luminous, loving creation that is living within you, living as you. Everything you've ever needed has always been inside of you. You don't have to create anything, succeed at anything, change anything or achieve anything. You just have to say "yes" and receive the gift within. And yet it can be so hard to say yes to ourselves, to accept the miracle of ourselves. This is when we need to find the self-discipline to love ourselves, to show up and stay the course, and overcome the obstacles that we may have inherited in our thinking. Fitness from the inside out often means letting go of our conditioning. Conditioning has its roots in those things we have been told about ourselves and the world – the beliefs we have inherited that might be holding us back. We can spend a lot of our lives trying to follow the same path, subconsciously programmed to believe that happiness lies in obeying the same list of rules. In being more like everyone else. But this is wrong. There is no list of rules. There is one rule and that rule is: there are no rules. Happiness and a whole life come from living as you need to, as you want to. As your inner voice tells you to. When you feel the need to apologize or explain who you are, it means the voice in your head is telling you the wrong story and it's time to wipe the slate clean, and rewrite it. No more fairy tales. It's time to become your own narrator. – writes Rhyanna Watson, the author of Brave, Beautiful and Baring It All: Opening Our Hearts to Happiness No Matter What Life Throws At Us. Valeria Teles interviews Rhyanna Watson. She is a bold, compassionate writer, yoga teacher, wellness trainer and social media sensation who has come out the other side of a lot of personal trauma both stronger and happier – explores how to strip back your protective layers back. Rhyanna has come out the other side of personal traumas including sexual assault, post-natal depression and a suicide attempt both stronger and happier. She loves engaging with her extensive online community, helping them be brave enough to live in ways that they previously only dreamt of - fit, open, vibrant, contented, true to themselves and free. She is now keen to share her messages of love and empowerment through her book and work. To learn more about Rhyanna Watson please visit his website: http://www.rhyannawatson.com/ For Intro-free episodes: https://www.patreon.com/aquestforwellbeingpodcast Podcast Page: https://fitforjoy.org/podcast ** Bio intro and outro one by Heidi Lynn Peters.

Valeria Teles interviews Jason Reynolds. Jason invites us to move beyond the philosophical chatter into deliberate action. Jason facilitates powerful, Organizational Architecture and the development of a Personal Governance required for long term success. He is passionate about the everyday hero and in particular the next generation, yet his career spans across progressive multi-nationals, successful entrepreneurs and elite performers upon various stages. His work is focused upon the individual becoming their authority, establishing their state of Personal Governance required to explore sovereignty. He speaks deliberately and profoundly into embracing the chaos we create, providing a proven navigation to embrace the unknown within all of us. He is not focused on changing the world but having individuals change theirs, inspiring others to do the same by the example they provide. His teaching is confronting and unconventional, but inconveniently simple. He asks you to see the obvious and take action into life by activating an undeniable, yet powerful frequency signature. Jason's work with The Quantum Movement may just reestablish what we know about self-healing as clients consistently move beyond terminal diagnosis. Going against the common approach, Jason maintains a low profile. He has not sought followers or growing a community, instead setting people free to follow an unencumbered pathway within. After 20+ years, Jason is now in process of exposing and launching his life's work. To learn more about Jason Reynolds please email him at: jason@thequantummovement.com For Intro-free episodes: https://www.patreon.com/aquestforwellbeingpodcast Podcast Page: https://fitforjoy.org/podcast ** Bio intro and outro one by Heidi Lynn Peters.

So many people, including ourselves, often expect our grief to be finished by the one-year anniversary of the death. People expect us to move on, and their words shame us for still being impacted. Often, we, ourselves, shame ourselves for not getting "over it" quicker, and we beat ourselves up. The path of grief, though, is not confined to just one year. It is a life-long journey that manifests itself time and time again. Valeria interviews Brandy Lidbeck, the author of The Gift of Second: Healing from the Impact of Suicide. "In 1969, after extensive research with dying individuals, Elisa- beth Kubler-Ross, a Swiss-American psychiatrist, created the theory that people grieve in stages. She discovered that each person, near death, experienced a series of stages as the end of their life drew near: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. Widely used in the mental health profession and accepted in the general population as well, this concept has since been commonly adopted by the world to describe the stages an individual goes through after losing a loved one. Although the theory created by Kubler-Ross is strong and has merit, it gives the illusion that, at some point, grief is complete. We, as survivors, know the grief is never finished. The intensity lessens over time, and the consuming emotions become more stable, but grief is never fully complete. When folks expect their grief to end and their pain to be erased, they are, oftentimes, focused on an imaginary timeline, waiting for that magical day to wipe away their hurt and allow their life to resume as it was before this great tragedy. When we expect the impossible, we are always disappointed. Brandy Lidbeck says that grief is neither linear nor does it adhere to a particular path. The Realistic Grieving Path begins with a suicide, causing a surviving individual to begin the grief process. The feelings one experiences are overwhelming, chaotic, erratic, and all-encompassing. Brandy compare this feeling to the destruction of an earthquake. Not only does it rock our worlds and bring devastation to our lives, but it also creates cracks in our foundation, causing us to doubt all that was. One moment we can feel intense heartache and sadness, and then next moment we are full of anger and rage. Always unpredictable and never convenient, walking through grief can be unbearable much of the time. As survivors work through their grief, they will eventually arrive at a phase titled 'New Normal.' New normal is labeled as such because we will never return to the person we were before the suicide. How could we? This phase becomes our new status quo, the phase in which we go about our days, no longer so consumed with grief. Life begins to carry on in this new normal stage until a 'life event' occurs. A life event can be positive, such as a wedding, the birth of a baby, or a graduation, or negative like the anniversary of the suicide, a serious illness, or a job loss. Regardless of the event, this scenario acts as a trigger and causes the survivor to walk through the grief path again as they process the death of their loved one once more in light of the new events. Walking through the grief path again by no means ne- gates any grief work we have done before; instead, it brings to light different aspects that need more healing or attention. The grief path is normal and one to fully expect as you traverse life after suicide. We will never be 'over' the pain and devastation completely, but it won't always dictate our lives. Brandy Lidbeck is a licensed marriage and family therapist who lives in California. She is the author of the book, The Gift of Second: Healing from the Impact of Suicide and the creator of thegiftofsecond.com, a website that offers hope and healing through the journey of suicide-loss. Brandy also coordinates a Local Outreach to Suicide Survivors (LOSS) Team, which deploys teams to newly bereaved suicide-loss survivors 24/7. Brandy is a two-time suicide-loss survivor and has a heart for those impacted by this same devastation. To learn more about Brandy Lidbeck please visit her website: http://thegiftofsecond.com/ For Intro-free episodes: https://www.patreon.com/aquestforwellbeingpodcast Podcast Page: https://fitforjoy.org/podcast ** Bio intro and outro one by Heidi Lynn Peters.

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be?... Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you... And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fears, our presence automatically liberates others." ~ Marianne Williamson from A Return To Love: Reflections on the Principles of A Course in Miracles What if you could be doing anything in the world that you wanted to be doing... What would that be? If there were no limitations... If money was not an obstacle... If education was not an obstacle... If family obligations were not an obstacle... What would your life look like? In this episode, Valeria Teles interviews Bella St John, the author of Achievement Alchemist: Discover Your Passion & Create the Life of Your Dreams. Rather than 'telling' you what you should or could be doing with your life, the Achievement Alchemist Guided Journal provides you with the basic tools and then challenges you with a series of exercises and questions to help you understand and then embrace the power of passion. Before she essentially retired Ms (Leigh) Bella St John's career was that of achievement strategist, executive coach, professional speaker and author, presenter, and a leading authority on 'abundance thinking'. Bella's adventures and the things she has done in her life make one think she must be at least 179 years of age – and all this with physical and mobility challenges… Among other things, she rode in a husky sled in the Scottish Highlands; spent time down in a Romanian salt mine; raced speedway stock cars; travelled overnight by rail from Vienna to Rome; spoke on stage at the United Nations; attended the Winter Olympics in Whistler; cruised the River Danube; stayed overnight by herself in a ghost town in the middle of the Nevada Desert; bought her very own Victorian horse-drawn carriage (as one does!); road-tripped across, around, and through America multiple, multiple times in a classic Jaguar convertible; visited the town with the longest place name in the world, cruised the Mississippi river on a paddle steamer; travelled by Jeep through underground caverns in the Ozarks; spent a week camping by herself beside a stunning lake in Georgia, complete with nightly skinny-dipping under the stars; visited the Altaussee salt mine in the mountains of Austria where WWII art treasures stolen by the Nazis were found by the 'Monuments Men'; slept in King Edward VII's bed; rode on the world's steepest incline railway; visited the church where her great-grandfather's great-grandparents were married;… and sooooo much more! To learn more about Bella St John please visit her website: www.BellaStJohn.com For Intro-free episodes: https://www.patreon.com/aquestforwellbeingpodcast Podcast Page: https://fitforjoy.org/podcast ** Bio intro and outro one by Heidi Lynn Peters.

Why does the youth feel the need to escape the challenges of life? Why does anxiety and depression in young adults seem to be rising rapidly? Why are young adults feeling less connected than ever? Why do millennials have the stigma of a generation that wants everything handed to them? Why do the qualities that make us great seem to be crumbling? The generations growing up in the digital age are presented with unique challenges, and Ty Gamble provides solutions from firsthand experience. Ty provides tools for both, emotional and physical healing so you can step into the light as the most powerful you. His work is mostly geared toward young men on the topics of sexuality, dating, and masculinity. However, much of its principles will remain true for all walks of life, regardless of age or gender. In his story, Ty discusses ways in which he overcomes a myriad of challenges he faced growing up, including chronic pain syndromes, anxiety, depression, sexuality, dependence and abuse of drugs and alcohol, and much more. He was able to step into personal power and overcome obstacles, and you can too. Ty discusses at length how societal implications have shaped our youths minds in both positive and negative ways, and how we can overcome our faulty mental programming. Valeria Teles interviews Ty Gamble, the author of The Millennial Man: From Darkness to Light Ty Gamble is a Life and Health Coach, Published Author, and former Division 1 Athlete in Cross Country and Track & Field. He was born, raised, and currently reside in Long Island, New York. Growing up, despite having what he would describe as a phenomenal upbringing, he faced psychological challenges that would define his adolescence. However, as time moved forward, Ty began realizing many of his issues uniquely connected to growing up in what he calls the "Millennial Era" or the digital age. After coming up with solutions that would alter his life, he felt he could use what has worked for him to impact the lives of countless others that have experienced similar challenges. To learn more about Ty Gamble please visit his website: https://www.justtygamble.com/#/ For Intro-free episodes: https://www.patreon.com/aquestforwellbeingpodcast Podcast Page: https://fitforjoy.org/podcast ** Bio intro and outro one by Heidi Lynn Peters.

When considering any kind of change or incorporating a new practice into your life, whether it is writing for bliss, writing for therapy, or writing for transformation, I like to mention what Zen master Shunryu Suziki referred to in his book, Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind (1976), as maintaining the sensibility of the "beginner's mind." The idea is that the beginner's mind tends to be open to many possibilities, unlike the expert's mind, which only sees few. Remaining open-minded and available for new ideas is important, in the same way that we might witness in young children, who are like sponges for learning. Having a beginner's mind is also about suspending your disbelief and going with the flow of your experience. Hopefully, when you have made the decision to engage in personal writing you've given yourself permission to take yourself on a voyage of self-discovery. This entails reviewing your life with a child's curiosity, awe, and simplicity. In so doing, there is a good chance that significant revelations will begin emerging from your subconscious mind. Writing with the magic mindset of a child can be a fun and poignant way to write and to unleash deep, dark, and surprising secrets. The art of writing for change is about setting out on a journey. Imagine yourself packing to visit a new land—one you've never visited before or one you have not visited in a long time. Be alert and mindful of the details of your landscape. Document them in your journal or on your computer. Don't worry about the direction of your musings; for the moment, simply accumulate them. You can decide later whether your writing will be for you alone, for prosperity, or for public sharing. – says Diana Raab In this episode, Valeria Teles interviews Diana, the author of WRITING FOR BLISS: A Seven-Step Plan for Telling Your Story and Transforming Your Life. Diana Raab, MFA, PhD, is a memoirist, poet, blogger, speaker, and award-winning author of nine books. Her work has been published and anthologized in over 1000 publications. She frequently speaks on writing for healing and transformation. She's been writing since the age of ten when her mother gave her a Khalil Gibran journal to help her cope with her grandmother's suicide. At that early age, she realized that writing made her feel better and helped her heal from life's challenges. She says that she's spiritual but not religious. She views writing as her spiritual practice and she writes every day. Raab blogs for Psychology Today, PsychCentral, and Thrive Global, and is a guest blogger for many others. She's editor of two anthologies: Writers and Their Notebooks and Writers on the Edge; two memoirs: Regina's Closet: Finding My Grandmother's Secret Journal and Healing with Words: A Writer's Cancer Journey, and four poetry collections, including Lust. Her latest books are Writing for Bliss: A Seven-Step Program for Telling Your Story and Transforming Your Life and Writing for Bliss: A Companion Book. To learn more about Diana Raab please visit her website: https://dianaraab.com/ For Intro-free episodes: https://www.patreon.com/aquestforwellbeingpodcast Podcast Page: https://fitforjoy.org/podcast ** Bio intro and outro one by Heidi Lynn Peters.