A Quest for Well-Being

— "Humans do not enter a world which is inherently structured. We must give the world a structure which we ourselves create." ~ Dr. James T. Webb "The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently released startling new statistics on the rise of deaths by suicide in the United States, which are up 25 percent since 1999 across most ethnic and age groups. These numbers clearly point to a crisis — but of what kind? Many argue that this is a crisis of mental health care, that people are not getting the services they need. The proposed solution is better therapies, more effective antidepressants and greater access to treatment. This assessment may be correct. However, the suicide rate has increased even as more people are seeking treatment for depression and anxiety, and even as treatment for those conditions has become more widely available. An additional explanation seems to be needed. As a behavioral scientist who studies basic psychological needs, including the need for meaning, I am convinced that our nation's suicide crisis is in part a crisis of meaninglessness." ~ Clay Routledge Valeria interviews Dr. Sheena Sachdev — She is a licensed psychologist who specializes in Existential Psychology. She treats individuals struggling with anxiety, depression, relational issues, and trauma. Her phenomenological approach ensures that each individual has a spotlight on their subjective human experience and perspective. Dr. Sachdev is an advocate of group therapy and has initiated several groups at each site she has worked with including: a yoga/meditation group, a mindfulness group, creativity groups, and existential depression and anxiety groups. To learn more about Dr. Sheena Sachdev and her work, please visit: https://www.drsheena.com/

— Thinking about Universal Consciousness as God or All That Is may seem totally abstract and difficult to comprehend. But once you begin to understand how one universal consciousness is primary, and that our "personal" consciousness is a part of that infinite ocean of consciousness, and that consciousness is creative and creates the physical as well as the non-physical, and that the universe, therefore, is one wholeness AND is alive because consciousness is the same as life, and that the One Consciousness is good and desires the experience of life to be good because that is the true expression of wholeness, then you begin to see how the universe and the workings of the universe make complete sense. The universe and God can be understood and related to. Well-being is holistic and includes all aspects of you – body, mind, and spirit – awakening is and should be all about achieving greater well-being. That's a very good thing, and the goal of awakening should always be a happier, healthier, more abundant you! Valeria interviews Raymond Posch — He is the author of "Awakening to Wholeness: How to Live Consciously, Creatively, and Abundantly." Raymond Posch is a podcaster, spiritual explorer and wayshower, folk singer, writer, and speaker. His podcasts are Our Spiritual Life (running 4 years as of December 2023) and New Ways of Being (launched in November 2023). He loves exploring spiritual awakening and the evolution of human consciousness. He is the author of the book Awakening to Wholeness. His earlier career was in information technology and project management. To learn more about Raymond Posch and his work, please visit: https://raymondposch.com/

— Carl Rogers, psychologist wrote in 1959 his view on human nature, that when people are placed in meaningful therapeutic conditions, they will naturally change in a positive direction. Carl Rogers and William Miller (psychologist) have separately shared that this tendency toward reaching your true inner self "it is as natural as a plant's growth upward toward the light when given adequate soil, water, and sunshine. It is as if each person has a natural mature end-state or purpose (Telos, in Greek) toward which he or she will grow given optimal conditions." They say that the Telos of an acorn is to become an oak tree; to reach its true purpose. Each action we take as humans is directed towards some Telos (i.e. purpose) and real change involves identifying concrete steps needed to attain Telos. Telos has many terms that describes it in philosophy; goal, completion, or fulfillment; this translates into all walks of life. Valeria interviews Marissa Harris — She is a compassionate therapist dedicated to guiding individuals on a transformative journey toward holistic well-being through sensorimotor psychotherapy. She is a licensed independent clinical social worker, national board certified clinical social work diplomate, certified substance abuse provider, and certified in mindfulness-based relapse prevention, and a mindfulness-based relapse prevention group facilitator. She has specialized training in trauma informed approaches in Level 2 Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, Trauma Informed Stabilization Treatment, EMDR, Motivational Interviewing, and Internal Family Systems approaches. She is also trained in the Institute of Functional Medicine where she explores ways to highlight the intricate link between our emotional experiences and bodily responses. She is currently the owner of Telos Health and Wellness Services, a private practice where she offers individual therapy as well as consultation. Throughout her 25 years in the field, she has served as a steadfast advocate and mentor, guiding and empowering a team of dedicated trauma, medical, and forensic professionals. She shares the honor and privilege of supporting individuals navigating life circumstances that have led to symptoms consistent with PTSD or dissociative disorders. Her focus remains centered on the person and understanding the unique challenges someone could face as a result of their experiences or environment. Exploring a holistic approach, she believes in the power of the body to hold and release emotional pain, trauma, and stress. Through gentle exploration and mindfulness, she helps people reconnect with the innate wisdom of their body at a pace that works for the person she is supporting. She feels the body tells a story and she utilizes a way of listening, honoring, and understanding its language. To learn more about Marissa Harris and her work, please visit: https://www.teloshealthandwellnessservices.com

— The mission of Czar Clothing is to lead and revolutionize the athleisurewear fashion industry by setting a new standard for eco-friendly, responsible, and sustainable practices. We believe in a future where fashion and the planet coexist harmoniously, and we are committed to making that vision a reality. Our commitment to sustainability begins with our innovative 'On-Demand' model. We produce clothing only when you, our valued customers, place orders. We eliminate the detrimental effects of overproduction that plague the fashion industry, reducing waste and minimizing our carbon footprint. Valeria interviews Nick Zellem — He is the founder of Czar Clothing, a trademarked brand that specializes in high-quality sustainable athleisurewear for men and women. Nick was heavily influenced by his family's eastern European and Russian heritage. He moved to Texas and acquired a business degree in Entrepreneurship from Baylor University before embarking on a successful career in technology sales. Nick conceptualized Czar Clothing over 10 years ago and formally started the company in 2016. In his off time, Nick enjoys yoga, working out, kickboxing, DJing & Video DJing, and has been learning the Russian Language the past few years. To learn more about Nick Zellem and his work, please visit: https://czarclothing.com/

— When it feels like something's missing If it hurts but you can't find healing Just look up, know you are loved Just look up; know you are loved You, don't have to prove yourself Don't try to be someone else You don't have to prove yourself Don't try to be someone else You are loved! ~ partial lyrics to the song by Stars Go Dim Valeria interviews Linda Bjork — She is the author of "Crushed: A Journey Through Depression, You Got This!: An Action Plan To Calm Worry, Fear, Anxiety, And Stress and many other titles." Linda Bjork is the founder and executive director of Hope for Healing non-profit charity and owner of Innovative Joy LLC. She has degrees from Brigham Young University and The University of the State of New York. She has written several non-fiction books. Her podcast, "Linda's Corner," and blog, "Two Good Things," were created to inspire hope, increase joy, and motivate positive change. Linda's personal mission is to empower people to become their best selves. Linda defines herself as an overcomer. She has overcome depression, social anxiety, and trauma. She has overcome self-limiting beliefs, self-sabotage, low self-confidence, low self-esteem and more. For decades, Linda felt like an imposter, masquerading as someone worth loving and accepting when she "knew" that she wasn't really good enough. She now lives a joyful, authentic, fulfilling life. Linda is passionate about hope, healing, and personal transformation because she has lived it. She created Hope for Healing non-profit to help empower others to overcome as well. She has interviewed hundreds of experts and overcomers on Linda's Corner Podcast so we can help even more people overcome every kind of adversity and life challenge. To learn more about Linda Bjork and her work, please visit: https://hopeforhealingfoundation.org/

— Effective Listening is an online healing community dedicated to everyone getting to thrive in this life as themselves. A truly supportive environment is essential for humans to thrive. In order to co-create a better world, we need to learn and practice the art of "Effective Listening." By learning and practicing Effective Listening, we create a supportive environment and empower each other toward self-actualization. Valeria interviews Ilya Parizhsky — He is the founder of Effective Listening, a group process that creates one on one listening partnerships for mutual healing and transformation. He holds a Masters in Drama Therapy from the California Institute of Integral Studies, and is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in California, Oregon, Colorado and Washington, DC, where he practices online couples and individual therapy. Ilya is an expert leader of personal growth workshops and group processes, and has helped thousands of people heal and overcome restrictions to their authenticity. He devotes himself to staying at the cutting edge of the healing arts. He has trained in countless therapeutic modalities, and has taken part in tens of thousands of hours of experiential workshops, and thousands of hours of individual counseling, meditation, yoga, dance and movement, theater, and other self-actualization processes. He continues to vigorously pursue both personal and professional development, and can't overstate the importance for therapists and healing professionals to do extensive amounts of both professional training and personal healing work in order to be authentically and skillfully available for others. Ilya is also adept at simplifying and boiling down the essence of complex processes. Effective Listening is the culmination of Ilya's wide-ranging experience and training, and offers an accessible synthesis of powerful personal growth techniques, borrowing from many different disciplines and modalities, but creating something truly unique. In addition to his passion for therapy and healing, Ilya is also a performance artist and stand-up comedian, where he uses his life story and experiences to bring levity, light, and laughter to subjects as deep as the nature of consciousness and the meaning of life, and as silly as multi-lingual animal sounds. Ilya is also a proud father of two young daughters. He is a devoted husband married to his best friend and favorite person on the planet. And he lives in an Ecovillage, which he finds to be an ideal environment for his children to grow up, freely roaming and playing with friends. Ilya has a deep longing and commitment to be of service, and to make the world a better place. He has developed Effective Listening as a means to that end. In his work as a psychotherapist, he is often confronted with the fact that humans need more than a therapy session once a week to thrive. We need a network of supportive skillful humans we can count on. The Effective Listening method is not therapy and is not meant to replace therapy. Effective Listening unleashes the awesome power and natural healing capacity that each of us has inside of us. It gives us a living network of people and a community of practice with whom to share and develop our dormant ability to give and receive love and build the collective resources to create a world that truly meets the needs we have. To learn more about Ilya Parizhsky and his work, please visit: https://effectivelistening.org/ and https://www.ilyaparizhsky.com/

— "When you are grateful, you have positive energy that emanates outward from your being. You become a magnet of sorts, attracting more experiences and opportunities that enrich your life, giving you even more reasons to be grateful. Challenges or problems are reduced or eliminated because, aside from applying practical solutions, you do not give them any power or energy. Life begins to reflect your good back to you in amazing ways. There is always something to be grateful for…" "Gratitude is the healthiest of all human emotions. The more you express gratitude for what you have, the more likely you will have even more to express gratitude for." — Zig Ziglar Valeria interviews Jan Lynch — She is the author of "The Divine Flow of Abundance, winner of the NYC Big Book "Distinguished Favorite" award in 2021. After a successful career in the Airline and Hospitality Industries, Jan began to study how to use Universal Principles in creating one's own life. From numerous classes and workshops, plus reading uplifting, metaphysical books, she learned how to apply these principles of success to her own life. She welcomed the beliefs that joy, love, vibrant health and financial freedom are natural birthrights for all. The Divine Flow of Abundance was the result of a "nudge" from the Universe to create a simple and insightful 30-day Abundance Plan that anyone can use in order to realize and accept the limitless prosperity the Universe has for each of us. The two common themes in the book are "Spirit is your Source" and "Be careful what you think because thoughts become things." Jan is also a Spiritual Practitioner licensed through the Emerson Theological Institute in Oakhurst, California and the co-author of Affirm Your Future: How to use Affirmations to Bridge Your Future. She is an inspirational speaker and, as a Spiritual Counselor she assists others in creating the life they truly desire. A percentage of sales of Jan's books is donated to the Harmony Spiritual Center in Fort Worth, Texas. To learn more about Jan Lynch and her work, please visit: https://www.janlynch.com

— "Life is everywhere, and we are connected to it. In the web of life, everything has a purpose and is part of the ecology of the planet. Our dogs help me see all this. It starts with their curiosity, their need to inspect every little thing on a walk and then do it again the next day. Every being has a purpose. Follow a dog or a child, explore a little, ask one question, which leads to another, and then a whole new world appears before you. Children and dogs. On a walk, the most important thing to do is be curious. We walk for all sorts of reasons. We decompress. We count steps. We listen to music. We make lists. If we are not alone, we talk. Yet if we follow our dog's nose, if we spend a bit of time wondering about where that plant, that flower, that mysterious jackrabbit — their head and ears peeking out from a bush — came from, and we do it repeatedly, the biosphere emerges before us as astonishing and interconnected. We walk in a sacred space. Life connected; life dependent. Nothing stands, walks, runs, creeps, swims, slithers, sends out shoots or roots independently. Every living creature has a past, a history that takes it back to those single-cell ancestors four billion years ago. It is the great Oneness." Valeria interviews Hersch Wilson — He is the author of "Dog Lessons: Learning the Important Stuff from Our Best Friends, Play To Win: Choosing Growth Over Fear in Work and Life, Firefighter Zen: A Field Guide to Thriving in Tough Times and Test of Faith - A Novel of Faith and Murder in the Southwest." Hersch Wilson has worked (as in jobs he was actually paid for) as a corn pollinator, a ferris wheel operator, a short-order cook, a ballet dancer, an outdoor educator, a soccer coach, a leadership consultant, a pilot, and a writer. The ferris wheel operating was the strangest job. Lots of physics involved. Along the way, he was also a volunteer firefighter-EMT for thirty-three years which culminated in the award-winning book, "Firefighter Zen, A Field Guide for Thriving in Tough Times." Most importantly he is the partner of Laurie Wilson, father of two daughters and grandfather of two. For over sixty years he's also been a dog guardian. He has co-written three national business bestsellers with his father, Larry Wilson, including the award-winning, "Play to Win: Choosing Growth Over Fear in Work and in Life". Hersch attended Colorado College and quit his junior year to follow his passion, dance. He performed in Canada, Switzerland, and the United States. After that career ended, he graduated with a BA in English from the University of Minnesota. Hersch and Laurie live in Santa Fe, New Mexico with their daughter Sully and two rescue dogs, Toby, a Great Pyrenees, and Maisie, a terrier-chihuahua mix. His latest book is "Dog Lessons, Learning the Important Stuff from Our Best Friends." You can follow on Medium.com (@HerschWilson), on X (Twitter) (@Bravingfires), on Instagram (@herschwilson)and on his website, HerschWilson.com. You can order Hersch's books at your favorite bookstore or wherever books are sold OR you can go to our wonderful book store in Santa Fe — Collected Works — order in person or online! To learn more about Hersch Wilson and his work, please visit: https://www.herschwilson.com/ — This podcast is a quest for well-being, a quest for a meaningful life through the exploration of fundamental truths, enlightening ideas, insights on physical, mental, and spiritual health. The inspiration is Love. The aspiration is to awaken new ways of thinking that can lead us to a new way of being, being well.

— Carolyn's area of expertise lies in transforming amateur mindsets into a professional outlook, a crucial aspect in the Game of Life. Why does she call it "The Game of Life"? Because, just like any game, life: — Has a beginning and an end. — There are rules to be observed if we want to stay in the game. — There are winners and losers. — It's not about our worth — it's about our skills. — We can always improve at it. — We don't have full control over the outcome, but we do over the process. —It's got to be fun! On this podcast interview, Carolyn's intention is not to tout her coaching services but to unveil as many of her 50 principles of living life as a "Pro." Carolyn firmly believes that even embracing a single principle from her handbook can steer you towards a more powerful and purposeful life! Valeria interviews Carolyn Mahboubi — She is a distinguished Life and Leadership Coach who works with some of the most extraordinary and interesting people in the world. Armed with over four decades of leadership and entrepreneurial prowess, she empowers her clients (both young and not-so-young adults) to seize the reins of their lives, families, and businesses, and lead with Radical Responsibility. To learn more about Carolyn Mahboubi and her work, please visit: https://www.carolynmahboubi.com/ and Instagram: @carolynmahboubi_coach

— Throughout Ellen's 30 years in the industry, the secret ingredient that connected her to her clients wasn't just the food. It was that she crafted her meals like "medicine" and listened when their needs/goals changed. Whether Ellen's clients were dealing with acne or autoimmune issues, her health-minded recipes would nourish more than their hunger. She has experienced first-hand how our digestive system directly impacts our lives, and it changed the old "You are what you eat" mentality to a mindset focused on "You are what you can digest." Ellen's mission is to help you improve your gut health so you feel your healthiest – mind, body, and spirit. In her latest book, Gut Driven, and her 3-week Reset 90/10 program, Ellen breaks it down and give you the road map to heal your body, achieve balance, and reset your relationship with food! Valeria interviews Ellen Postolowski — She is the author of "Gut Driven: Jump-Start Digestive Health to Nourish Body, Mind, and Spirit." As a health-focused chef, Ellen lives by the well-known motto: "Let food be thy medicine." It is obvious that eating more fruits and vegetables is in your best interest, but simply knowing that is not enough. By embracing the connection between self-care, better choices, enhanced gut health, cognitive functions, and hormonal balance, we begin to heal. Plus, food inspires! It gives us the opportunity to create and gather in community to enjoy the flavors each season brings. To learn more about Ellen Postolowski and her work, please visit: https://www.chefellen.com/