Inspired Evolution with Amrit Sandhu 🙏🏻

Our guest for this week is Sam Maher, an instrumentalist and drummer better known for his unique playing style on the handpan.Sam is a very experienced drummer, having worked with bands and artist such as Methyl Ethel, Katy Steele (Little Birdy), Rabbit Island, Grace Woodroofe, Nicholas Allbrook (POND, Tame Impala) and countless other groups based in Perth. But only 6 months after discovering the handpan, Sam decided to travel to the Americas. Over the course of 15 months, he has explored regions from Mexico City all the way south to the Patagonian region of Argentina, surviving mostly from the money he made busking on the streets. Sam has now performed his boundless music in over 22 countries and counting.In 2015, he unexpectedly reached new levels of fame when he was approached to make a video by the YouTube channel BUSKRS. They recorded and produced a video of Sam improvising a session on his handpan in New York and the video went viral quickly after being uploaded. To this day it has racked up over 2.8 million views with overwhelmingly positive reviews, and you can check it out here!Sam has also spoken at a TEDMED conference about the transcendent power of music. Along with a touching performance, he discussed his personal experience with the handpan, how much has the music changed and affected him, and he also explored the communicative nature of music.Connect with Sam:Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoTHsMyy2SHIXt2w42RrOFQFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/sammahermusic/Twitter: https://twitter.com/sammahermusic?lang=enSam’s Story of Inspired EvolutionPrior to being propelled by a spontaneous YouTube video going viral, Sam’s journey has been one accompanied by struggles, from both a personal and a professional standpoint.“I was really burning the candle at both ends because I was playing in about five bands, I was working full time and I was just really burnt out.” - Sam MaherWith a full-time job on one end and an exhausting nightlife of endless gigs on the other, Sam found himself at a position of feeling emotionally drained. Around that same time, he discovered the handpan, and straight away he felt a connection with the instrument. In his own words, playing the handpan has opened up new worlds for him and for his audience as well.“I sat down on the side of the street and just started playing, and all of a sudden people would sort of gather around, and I had an older Aboriginal woman sitting down next to me weeping. It just opened up so many worlds for me, in that instant.” - Sam MaherHe realized that he was ready and that he needed to experience different cultures, learn through traveling and better understand himself. He sold everything and embarked on a journey over the Americas, with a plan to make a living through busking. Purposefully seeking to get in contact with the locals in order to connect with the way they’re living their everyday lives has led him on a path of personal growth.“To consider myself successful, I feel like I constantly need to be exposed to new worlds and new cultures.” - Sam MaherThe Benefits of Pushing Yourself Out of Your Comfort ZoneLeaving his home for 15 months was not an easy decision. Sam was aware that he would miss certain important moments in the lives of his friends and family. But he knew that in order to truly achieve relevant progress and development he needed to take a big step outside of his comfort zone.“It’s good to be uncomfortable. It’s a good trait for a human to be ok being uncomfortable at times.” - Sam MaherBeing able to sustain yourself in the moments of discomfort is a useful skill in life, and Sam wittingly makes note of this. It is good to have a playful relationship with being uncomfortable and there is a very good reason when we should push ourselves beyond the comfort zone even in moments when life seems easy. Because at times we’re going to run into adversities that are beyond our control. It is at those times precisely when our lifelong training of dealing with discomfort comes in handy.Searching for a New Sound“I want to be known as a great handpan musician, but would rather be known for a handpan musician that pushed the boundaries, rather than just sat on the street busking.” - Sam MaherIn terms of finding his sound, Sam is seeking to explore different genres and change the way people make music with the handpan. He has experimented with adding electronic music in an attempt to creatively challenge himself. Reestablishing the rules of how an instrument is played may not an easy task, but nevertheless, he is determined to continue on this path as the challenge makes it all the more rewarding.“I’m always looking for the push or pull, or the question and the answer.” - Sam MaherFinding a Purpose in Things That Bring Us Joy“There’s been no more important time to find something for yourself that works.” - Sam MaherSam recognizes the importance of living a life true to your purpose and depicts it as one of the foundations to a good mental health. His journey has been difficult at times, but the fact that he knew what he needed from life and the way he unconditionally gave himself to the things that brought him joy is a true inspiration. We need to be in line with our values. Our actions have to be accompanied by a sense of purpose and joy in order to make sense. Otherwise, we’re just playing games with ourselves. That is why Sam invites us to:“Trust those things that make you feel really, really good when you do them.” - Sam MaherSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/inspiredevolution. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our guest for this week is Carlos Rodrigues aka Kabeção, a Portuguese multi-instrumentalist, composer, street busker and sound healer who creates his own unique approach to music and sound.Originally studying to become a surgeon, Carlos discovered another, more fulfilling way of bringing joy and happiness to people. As he got more and more involved with music, he began to discover, explore and experiment with many different musical instruments. From a young age, he was familiar with percussion and rhythm, and then as the years went by he started to add other types of instruments, from strings to woodwinds, and his focus comes from the simple exploration of sound.Under the pseudonym Kabeção, the origin and the meaning of which he explains in our podcast, he embarked on a journey of a professional musician. He is self-taught and has combined influences from different parts of the world, Africa, India, Brazil, Turkey, Spain, France, Australia. He has developed unique playing techniques on each of his instruments, including drums, darbuka, udu, tabla, djembe, frame drum, cajon, berimbau, bansuri, sansula, Tibetan bowls, gongs, didgeridoo, guitar, and handpan.In 2015, he was a finalist on Portugal’s “Got Talent” and you can see one of his breathtaking live performances here!He has produced several albums throughout his career. His latest one titled “Touching Souls” was released in September 2017 after being completely crowd-funded by music lovers and players from all around the world. About the album, Carlos has stated that it exceeded expectations and goals during its conception and the album holds true to its name.Connect with Kabeção:Website: https://www.kabecao.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kabecao.handpan/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kabecaohandpan/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/Kabexon/featuredSoundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/kabzhandpanKabeção’s Story of Inspired EvolutionAt a very early age, Carlos realized a deep desire to help others. He decided to study medicine, as he found that becoming a surgeon would be a very effective way of satisfying that desire and save lives in the process. While struggling with a few exams which proved to be challenging, he discovered a much more meaningful, engaging and fulfilling relationship with music. He decided to quit school and started teaching himself to play. As years went by and as he started sharing his music with the world, he came to the conclusion that there was an alternative way of bringing people joy.“I started playing on the streets. Two years, every day, playing on the streets and exploring the sounds, exploring my emotions with the sounds analyzing how this reflects on people, how people receive this... And somehow I started to understand that music is such a powerful tool to heal people. To connect, to open hearts.” - KabeçãoAs he further explored this emotional aspect of music and playing music, he focused more and more on this healing aspect of it, all the while trying to hit the right vibrations with his creations which will resonate with the listeners.Emotional Aspect of MusicOne of the main and recurring themes of our conversation is emotions and the different ways that they are included in the process of creating, producing and receiving music. Discovering the handpan was of tremendous significance for Kabeção. Not only did it evoke interest, invite him to experiment and ultimately find his sound, but he saw a great opportunity to reflect, grow and connect with the self.“I felt really curious and since I’ve started playing I immediately felt connected with my soul… That was the first step for me to understand who I am. Who I am with other people, who I am with myself.” - KabeçãoConnecting with the idea of healing through music, Kabeção explores different ways in which this can be achieved and which key factors play a role. The attitude and the style of the person playing will influence the message and color the sounds being played, shaping the message further and enrich the melodies with emotion. He recalls a moment during one of his classes when he was brought to tears by a playing session from a girl that was still having difficulties with developing certain techniques. Her emotional connectedness to the music was very powerful and it overshadowed the objective lack of experience.“Sound is vibration and depending on who is making the things vibrate and how you’re vibrating, that reflects on the sound.” - KabeçãoThere are many different ways to evoke change and healing in a person with music. The intent behind music can be love, but it can also be an array of different emotions. Kabeção reflects on the ways tense and distorted sounds can cause people to have parts of them deconstruct, but more importantly to invite them to come together properly the second time around.The listener also plays a key role in terms of effectiveness of music as a transformational and healing tool. There needs to be a certain amount of receptivity present in the mind of the listener. If we are open and in the mood to receive the message being told through the music there is a bigger chance we can gain more from the whole experience.Breathing and the Creative Process“Breathing brings us to ourselves… Thinking about breathing cleans the mind and brings us back to us, it brings us back to the soul.” - KabeçãoCreativity is a complex process and our ability to express it depends on a certain mindset. Kabeção points out breathing as a useful tool for getting yourself into a creative state. Different instruments demand different levels of physical activity but mastering any of them requires practice and discipline. By breathing and focusing on the breath, we can become more mindful and connect with ourselves. According to Kabeção, that connection with the self is very useful when it comes to creating and composing music.“The more you breathe the more you bring yourself to you again, more creative you are… and more rooted you are to just be you… to just have fun.” - KabeçãoThe Power of Listening“I really believe that listening is one of the most powerful tools to heal this planet today.” - KabeçãoBeing an experienced musician, it doesn’t come as a surprise that Kabeção emphasizes the importance of listening. Giving the circumstances of today’s fast-paced life, we tend to overlook the basic things. The way we communicate nowadays has become awkward and to some extent automatized, devoid of emotion, empathy and caring for the interlocutor. It seems as though we’re consistently oversaturating ourselves with information, but we are paying the price by not being able to focus, listen for a moment, open up and connect with others. Kabeção sees the great potential of healing through better conversation, and the foundation for those conversations is better listening.“Challenge yourself to listen, even more… Sometimes you don’t have to say anything. You just need to listen.” - KabeçãoSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/inspiredevolution. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we’re joined by Colleen Gallagher, a coach, consultant, author, and an evolutionary transformation specialist.Colleen is a childhood cancer survivor. She was diagnosed with thyroid cancer and told that she’d have difficulties bearing children and that she’d have to be on medication for the rest of her life. Aside from the pain and adversity coming from dealing with a horrible disease, Colleen also had to deal with peer rejection and being made fun of by her classmates. After several surgeries, she’s managed to pull through, but these experiences have stayed with her and played an important part in her becoming the person she is today.Her love for travel has pulled her through life, but even though she had worked for hugely successful companies and making really good money, like many of her coworkers, she still felt unhappy. She founded Colleen Gallagher International so she could empower leaders to become evolutionary leaders to flow with the evolution of humanity through lifestyle careers. All of her travels, studying and leadership retreats have allowed Colleen to gain a greater understanding of human potential, purpose, and how the online world is impacting human development.Colleen has created many systems and programs that will help you empower yourself and achieve a connection to what lies in your heart. One of them is a 12-week program called Live the Impossible, which takes you out of the information-overloaded world we live in, and provides you with a crystal clear view on what it is you actually want.Colleen has also condensed her experiences and findings into a book titled Live Your Truth. The book is based around a 5-step proven system that is meant to help you see that any dream can come true if you are living your truth, figure out how to become part of moving the world forward, find the courage to intoxicate the world with your truth and start living a life with no regrets.In our conversation, we canvas Colleen’s story of Inspired Evolution, the importance of connectivity and making the impossible possible!Connect with Colleen:Website: https://www.colleengallagher.co Twitter: https://twitter.com/col_gallagher1 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheColleenGallagher/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colleen_gallagher_/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/colleen-gallagher-81691661/ Colleen’s Story of Inspired EvolutionGrowing up in Detroit, Michigan, Colleen was having what most people would call a pretty normal childhood. That is until one day, during a basketball session, she collapsed onto the court not being able to catch her breath. She was rushed to the ER and was subsequently diagnosed with thyroid cancer. Surgeries, medication and a difficult situation at school had Colleen switching from a normal childhood, into a world of having to fight a deadly disease and struggling with adversity on a daily basis. Her appearance changed as a result of her treatment and her peers were unable to show compassion at the time, some even acting in a very cruel manner.“People were calling me ugly… I was dating an African-American at the time and people would say like “Oh, did he choke you out?”, and they would say really mean things about racism.” - Colleen GallagherWhile undergoing treatment for her cancer, she witnessed an argument between two parents of another girl that was with her at the hospital, which affected her world-views immensely. “Her dad screamed at her mom, saying: “The only reason we’re in this position to not pay for her treatment, is because you are a stay-at-home mom”. And what imprinted in me at that time was two things… One, that you needed money to have love and two, that you needed money to not die.” - Colleen GallagherIn years to come, Colleen developed a money-hungry, corporate attitude. She got a degree in Marketing at Michigan State University and throughout her studies, she gained valuable experience by taking paid internships. After graduation, she started working as a sales engineer for a 23 billion-dollar company. Colleen loved traveling her entire life, and not being able to do so made her switch jobs, and she quickly got hired by a $400 million company and moved to New Zealand. She was able to travel and experience new things, got promotions, she was making good money, but she still wasn’t feeling happy. In January 2018, she decided to take a leap of fate, and since then she became an evolutionary transformational coach, she started her own consulting company, developed numerous programs and had her book published.Making a Commitment to Yourself“Find that thing where you’re more committed to it than you are committed to the fear, or the illusion of fear that exists.” - Colleen GallagherColleen shares with us her stories of committing to herself, in terms of leaving behind a life of partying and recreational use of drugs and channeling her energy into the activities that really mattered and were meaningful to her. Doing yoga and meditation for 4 hours a day may not be everyone’s idea of fun and fulfillment, and Colleen points out that everyone’s commitment is going to be different. The trick is to find activities that you find most enjoyable and go all in because it is the best way to rekindle your motivation and love for life.“It could be dancing for you, it could be music… it could be anything! Whatever that commitment is - go to that. Because that’s what will give you back the heart of your life.”  - Colleen GallagherConnecting with Your Greatest Truth“If you create the success and you’ve haven’t evolved that connectivity that comes from within, and your connectivity of what matters to you in the world… you’re going to be addicted to the success pattern.” - Colleen GallagherConnecting with your truth means being involved with things that resonate with what truly matters to you in the world. Being successful without getting in line with your highest values will lead you to become addicted to the outright empty definition of success. The emptiness of that definition comes from the fact that it is not your own. It does not come from your heart and it is not correlating with the things most important to you. No one should be allowed to tell you what success looks like and feels for you.“Everyone gets to have their own path. Everyone gets to have their own idea of success… Whatever success you desire, make it your success, connect to your dream of success.” - Colleen GallagherOne of the key steps in connecting with your truth is trough redefining your environment. This includes mainly the little things that you do when you’re acting from the heart. Things you’re browsing online, things you enjoy within your own time. Looking for consistencies in your environment, in things that you surround yourself with on a daily basis will provide answers to the question of your truth. In those patterns, you will find those activities you are performing effortlessly and you will be able to make a connection within.“Where do you give generously always, that it doesn’t feel like work, like, you’re giving just to give?” - Colleen GallagherColleen passionately invites you to live the life you were always meant to live by looking within and connecting with the deepest aspects that were always a part of you, to begin with. She urges us to:“Just go, be the most epic, conscious, badass human being that you are meant to be on this planet!” - Colleen GallagherSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/inspiredevolution. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we’re joined by Mason Taylor, a thought leader, professional speaker, tonic herbalist, and writer who inspires and teaches people to once again become enchanted with their body, life, and health.Use promo code INSPIREDEVO at checkout for a 10% discount at SuperFeast.For the last 7 years, Mason has been teaching about the benefits of medicinal mushrooms and Taoist tonic herbs. He founded his own brand of powdered extracts of tonic herbs and medicinal mushrooms called SuperFeast. Carefully sourced from wild regions of China and Inner Mongolia, SuperFeast products are comprised of purest, highest quality, all-natural ingredients. You can check out their blog to find educational articles about health and nutrition and explore awesome recipes of shakes, brownies, elixirs and so much more!Mason also hosts two podcasts. The SuperFeast Podcast started back in September 2018, and it dives into and dissects topics such as tonic herbalism, brain optimization, and Jing energy. On his other podcast, The Mason Taylor Show, he interviewed thought leaders, visionaries and change-makers in many areas of life to share with you their latest Insights, distinctions and actionable advice relevant to the journey of health. There are over 40 episodes of inspiring educational content on diverse subjects with interesting guests for you to check out.Having spent over 15,000 hours studying the field of health and transformation, he employs education, vulnerable conversation, and deep connection to help people discover who they really are and what they are here to do in the world. His clients stop living in an illusion about the environment and the world they live in. They discover not only how to resolve health problems, but they get the clarity and confidence to explore their aspirations.Connect with Mason:Website: https://www.superfeast.com.au/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/maseface86Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/masonjtaylor/Mason’s Story of Inspired EvolutionMason shares with us his journey from getting interested with and studying herbalism in his last year of studies, to having his own brand of medicinal mushrooms and tonic herb products. Back in 2011, he started SuperFeast with the intent of spreading the word about the importance and benefits of adding plants and medicinal mushrooms to your regular diet. Back then, these ideas were much less popular, hitting the highest point only in the last couple of years. The cultivation of these sacred plants coming from eastern cultures ideally follows the philosophy of Di Tao. While it’s difficult to translate, it basically means “sourced from its spiritual homeland”, with practical benefits of Di Tao being related to the effectiveness of the herbs and also improved appearance and taste. It is a subject people are not particularly aware of and it concerns proper ways of sourcing and harvesting plants and mushrooms.“It’s important to ensure that it doesn't hit fad vibes because overarching is a philosophy of integrating therapeutics, botanicals that have been harvested in particular ways, connected to the elements, connected to nature.” - Mason TaylorHe further explores potential issues with the subject of medicinal mushrooms becoming a fad and the unfortunate side-effects of opportunists getting involved with the business.“It’s the opportunists that come in late… and they don’t understand this mature perception of what it takes to leave the earth and the environment better than you found it and make sure you’re actually circulating where you’re getting your crop from.” - Mason TaylorThe Benefits of Medicinal Mushrooms and HerbsMason goes into details of just how and why are these medicinal mushrooms and tonic herbs a great way to boost your overall health. Using a very holistic approach, he is very down to earth and rational regarding the benefits, fully being aware that health is not about adding one or two things to your diet and experiencing magic-like improvements. Having said that, he is also extremely focused on the empirical evidence coming from western influences, all the while respecting the ancient traditions and anecdotal evidence that has been in the eastern culture for centuries. The knowledge acquired in both anecdotal and experimental form unequivocally points to the effectiveness of medicinal mushrooms.“These things aren’t cures, they’re not silver bullets but they are herbs that definitely help the immune system, especially medicinal mushrooms, to unite itself and get more sophisticated and that’s been proven empirically.” - Mason TaylorLooking at the whole picture, medicinal mushrooms can help you develop sovereign immunity and Mason sees one of the reasons in the connectedness we have with them in terms of evolution, to the point where we’re in some sort of symbiotic relationship with them.“We’ve co-evolved with mushrooms, 100%, and so they are a part of us” - Mason TaylorAttaining Sovereignty and the Slipperiness of Wisdom Diving into the dynamics and the multidimensional nature of intention, we discuss Mason's views on attaining sovereignty and the essence of wisdom. He emphasizes “slipperiness”, a characteristic that highlights the ability of a system to adapt, integrate and incorporate different bits of knowledge into something that will become relevant and effective.“Wisdom is gooey, wisdom is non-judgemental, wisdom is minding your own bloody business and then having enough perception of the environment around you when it’s appropriate to share with potency and, ideally, a smile on your face.” - Mason TaylorMason also invites us to be non-judgemental which he perceives an integral part of wisdom. A common mistake people make is that an over-development in one area of knowledge is somehow an excuse for exerting judgment towards other fields, one they’re not trying to understand. Less judgment would definitely benefit us all as a society and Mason inspires us to act be more open and cooperative with the words:“Don’t be a disruption when it’s not a useful thing that the society can use to evolve itself.” - Mason TaylorSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/inspiredevolution. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Embodied Enlightenment with Cari MerriamOur guest for this week is Cari Merriam, an expert health and lifestyle fitness guide with a mission to increase global happiness.Cari has been fighting adversity her entire life. Throughout her childhood, she was heavily medicated due to depression and anxiety issues. Her struggles with mental illness led her to a life of drug addiction and self-abuse.She found a way out in Core Power Yoga. After an emotional breakthrough experience, Cari resumed to challenge herself physically and spiritually and joined the 200-hour Yoga Alliance teacher training. Since then, Cari has gone on to teach over 2000 classes, lead BootCamps, Cleanses, and support Teacher Training nationally for Core Power Yoga. She has certifications in vinyasa, yin, sculpt, meditation, and breathwork (pranayama yoga). Cari founded a lifestyle brand called Strength and Surrender meant to empower, motivate and teach you how to rebuild the love you have for yourself and strengthen your mind, body, and soul. In 2016, she moved to Bali and ever since, she’s been working on awakening others into their highest self-potential. You can check out her channel on YouTube and see what her intelligent workouts based on yogic philosophy and practice are all about.She has her own podcast called Embodied Enlightenment where each week she discusses a wide array of diverse and interesting topics with her guests. Her intention is to shift your energetic experience of your everyday life, push you to think differently about your internal and external world, and to activate the greatness within you through conscious obtainable action.   Cari is on a mission to awaken self-love in others and she is focusing on teaching others how to live a life of freedom, passion, and purpose.Connect with Cari:Website: http://www.carimerriam.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CariMerriamHealerYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/carimerriamInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamcarimerriam/?hl=enCari’s Story of Inspired EvolutionHaving been riddled with anxiety and depression in her youth and with no alternative to heavy medication, Cari’s origin story is one of struggle and adversity. In later years she suffered from drug addiction to the point in which her life was seriously endangered.“I was almost on my deathbed, and in New York City because I was doing so much cocaine.” - Cari MerriamOne night, she decided to leave the bubble that drove her to the same paths of self-destruction and the universe responded with an unexpected encounter. She met a friend, her soul-sister, which opened her eyes to a new way. She planted an idea in Cari’s brain about Core Power Yoga, believing it could be an answer to the question she had been looking for. “I remember I went into Core Power and just balled my eyes out the first class. I completely lost it. It was the first time I felt like someone held space and saw me.” - Cari MerriamThe transformation she felt every time she practiced Yoga kept her coming back to the point where she decided to sign up for a program and become a teacher herself. In a peculiar situation where she was working as a bartender at a strip club by day, and going to teacher training at night, Cari looked for and found the strength within. “Every time things happen, I had a choice to be a victim or to be a victor for myself. And I always chose self.” - Cari MerriamHer next encounter with her soul-sister led her to explore the power of breathwork, opening a whole new dimension of experience, proving the remarkableness of the universal alignment behind their connection. Using techniques she has learned in the last decade, Cari founded her own lifestyle brand and is looking to inspire and teach self-love in others and bring marriage and wholeness within themselves.Marriage of the Self, Marriage of the Soul“We are all walking around with fragmentations of ourself and how we are brought up is in societies is to not look at those aspects… and we carry them around like a wounded bag behind us.” - Cari MerriamWe need to overcome the distortions within ourselves which are brought on by society. These fragmentations are seeking unity and we need to attain energetic wholeness in order to truly realize our purpose in life. Cari points out the difference between the physical and the energetic self. We charge our energetic bodies through the process of breathing, and through breathwork, we can achieve marriage of the self.“When you’re truly whole you can be in pure alignment with the river of life.” - Cari MerriamLimiting Nature of a Conditional Society“We all have trauma. All of us. Because we live in a conditional society.” - Cari MerriamIt’s easier for us as children to be aligned with the world around us as we’re not yet influenced by language. Trauma occurs when our natural development gets affected by the rules of society. From a young age, we’re being conditioned by society through our parents and the school system with the goal of controlling behavior. This is not in and of itself a bad thing but is what essentially leads to the conditioning of existence.What’s to Come“From the world’s standpoint, it’s time for co-creation. It’s time to uplift each other’s vibration, by not only uplifting our own but bridging relationships and merging cellularly so we can expand together.” - Cari MerriamCari is looking to share her stories, teach and get involved with co-creation, all the while exploring and witnessing the power of breathwork. Her message of the importance of achieving wholeness and marriage with the self is resonating deeply and the foundation of the whole story is beautifully summed up with the words:“You are pure love.” - Cari MerriamSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/inspiredevolution. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Be Joyfully Diligent with Alex T. SteffenOur guest for this week is Alex T. Steffen, a business consultant, best-selling author, and an award-winning presenter.Alex started his career as a digital marketing specialist, but over the course of the last decade, he has specialized in the fields of innovation management and the future of work. By providing consultancy services he facilitates the organizational development and innovation efforts of enterprises. In the process, he aims to equip employees and leaders with the required competencies and skills, while breaking down complex innovation problems into solvable tasks using agile methods such as design thinking, user journeys, gamification, masterminds, and custom learning journeys. His client list includes names of renowned companies like SAP, Red Bull, Mercedes Benz, and Webasto.He co-founded Growth Masters, an invite-only adventure mastermind which combines crowdsource coaching and accountability systems to help entrepreneurs advance and take their businesses to the next step. They provide their attendees (tribe members) with strategic business advice on active and passive income vehicles like brand building, preparing online courses, launching an Amazon FBA business, consulting, presenting, podcasting and more. Growth Masters is also a community which aims to connect bestselling authors, prominent startup founders, world-class speakers, athletes and other people who are prominent in their fields.Connect with Alex:Website: http://alextsteffen.com/en/Twitter: https://twitter.com/alextsteffen?lang=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Alex-T-Steffen/514164496LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alextsteffen/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alextsteffen/Alex’s Story of Inspired EvolutionWhen he was only three years old, Alex suffered from an illness, which he luckily managed to successfully overcome. However, he reckons that this experience maybe affected him to become the joyful, energetic person he is today. His parents assured him that his perseverance played an important role in making a full recovery.“My mom always said I fought the illness myself, rather than the medicine.” - Alex T. SteffenHis adolescence and young adulthood were enriched with a curiosity that led him to explore and travel to different parts of the world. These travels were not short excursions to new places, but more like journeys outside of his comfort zone, and Alex looked to spend time in new environments so that he could transform and advance.“I made it a point to go to places that are so different that people often don’t dare to go.” - Alex T. SteffenAlex explored places and sought to get in touch with people who had a completely different view of the world, either from being shut off or as a result of war and similar traumatic experiences. Places like Bosnia, Ruanda, Colombia… He points out the narrow viewpoints of the western world and that through these deep and meaningful interactions with people whose experiences are vastly different from our own, we can get a fuller, more accurate picture of the world that we see around us.Joyfulness, Diligence, OptimismThroughout our conversation, Alex remembers and honors his grandfather with having a great impact on his joyful attitude towards life. A war veteran, living major portions of his life in extreme adversity and challenging times, he always had a comforting message for Alex and his brothers, one that stuck with them and guided them through their difficult moments in life.“He thought us that wealth and abundance come from diligence, but also that a well-lived life is built on joy and you can’t live without it.” - Alex T. SteffenAlex discusses quite openly about the reasons behind his optimism and shows it is based on common sense. His stance on the whole question of the glass being half-full has a firm foundation in practicality. If all else fails, the optimistic mindset will act as a fertile setting, which will, in the end, give us an opportunity to build greater things in the future.“Some people criticize optimists for being optimistic and they say “You have to be realistic.” which is supposedly the opposite of it. I say no. I’m creating my own reality. Even if its just the fundamental part of “If I expect something, my body will react differently, it will calm me down.” and just by that, I have more capacity to be creative, to be more productive, to be calm and connecting.” - Alex T. SteffenGrowth Masters - How to Make an Amazing MastermindCreating masterminds came naturally for Alex. He felt comfortable in social situations where he got the chance to exchange opinions and discuss values with people who had a different viewpoint. He realized that exactly these types of exchanges were not only a great opportunity for connecting with others, but for personal growth as well.Alex noticed that three things were necessary in order to create a great mastermind. First and foremost, the environment in which the mastermind will be held. Our environment plays a very important role in learning because it inevitably affects our mindset by making us more comfortable, inspiring us or making us more open to new information and views different from our own. Alex uses a broad definition of the word environment and takes into account the states and the moods of the people included in the mastermind.“We had beautiful spaces that we cooked in together. So we created an environment through action and also through setting, and we were already ready for what came because we created the space.” - Alex T. SteffenThe second essential ingredient for making a great mastermind is a state of vulnerability. Our educational systems are usually not taking this aspect of learning into account and are usually focusing on promoting competition. In a safe space, where everyone can share their thoughts, feelings and be at their most vulnerable, we see people being more open to receiving valuable input from others and take in constructive feedback.“The state of vulnerability is something that in learning, is for me, one of the key points. And we don’t do this often.” - Alex T. SteffenOnce you’ve established a nurturing and comfortable environment, in which people can feel safe at their most vulnerable, it’s time to engage them in activities that will get them out of their comfort zone. By pushing themselves to complete adventurous feats, all the while getting inspiration and support needed from their peers, people can tap into a newfound energy which can later be used as fuel for achieving great things in their professional fields as well.“It’s not really for the kick. We want to channel a certain energy and excitement, a realization, and channel it into the work that we do afterward… To use this energy and to channel it is the actual benefit.” - Alex T. SteffenAlex has made an amazing career in pursuit of helping people reach new heights both personally and professionally. He inspires us with the words his grandfather, meant to motivate and empower with the energy that comes from an optimistic approach to life.“Be joyfully diligent.” - Alex T. SteffenSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/inspiredevolution. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our guest for this week is Niraj Naik (aka the Renegade Pharmacist), a qualified pharmacist, professional musician, holistic health expert, and entrepreneur.Years of working as a community pharmacist have given Niraj an opportunity to witness first hand the many difficulties people endure when dealing with illness. One of the key observations he made was that many of his customers kept coming back week in and week out, getting their medication as prescribed, with little to no improvements and being overwhelmed with side-effects. This led him to explore alternative ways for reaching optimal health and resulted in him developing his own method and a lifestyle plan, designed to help his patients.In 2010, Niraj was diagnosed with stress-related ulcerative colitis, which kept him housebound for 10 months. He was told by doctors that there was no cure for his illness and that he would need to take medication for the rest of his life to control it. The side-effects of his prescription drugs were becoming too much, leaving him often hopeless and even suicidal at times.He decided to step away from conventional medicine and study people who have managed to heal themselves in alternative ways. Combining techniques and knowledge from different disciplines like yoga, NLP, self-hypnosis, all the while incorporating dietary recommendations from Paleo and SCD to his daily routine, Niraj finally managed to overcome his illness, without medication.Niraj has also been exploring sound and music therapy in terms of reducing stress and promoting self-healing. Niraj has composed music for healing centers, spas, and therapists worldwide, and his work was included in the programs and videos of renowned experts such as Marisa Peer and Wim Hof.His latest project called SOMA Awakening is a group breathwork multisensory meditation experience that can awaken dormant parts of your brain, improve circulation, promote healing, transmute sexual life force energy and help to manifest your intentions taking your meditation practice to the next level. Soma Breath is being taught at wellness centers in Niraj’s second home of the island of Koh Phangan, Thailand. He has launched a successful teacher training that is proving to be very popular, with his first students already creating and facilitating their own paid workshops, and even showcasing their new skills at festivals.After overcoming a debilitating and house-confining illness cultivating the power of the mind, Niraj is aiming to teach and spread the knowledge he has acquired over the years and help people improve, transform and optimize their physical and mental health.Connect with Niraj:Website: https://therenegadepharmacist.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/truthprescribed/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGVW4kzxMm3iYFAZYBl_UqQTwitter: https://twitter.com/renegadepharm?lang=enNiraj’s Story of Inspired Evolution“I was just dead. I lost my soul.” - Niraj NaikDealing with a debilitating condition, along with suffering from side-effects of the prescribed medication has left Niraj in a state of emotional numbness and despair. The ulcerative colitis just pilled on to an already depressing situation of struggling to get his own ideas of how to improve people’s health across. At his lowest, in what can only be described as a moment of fate, Niraj met with a spiritual yoga teacher. Their encounter shifted his downward spiraling life story and gave him the much-needed energy and inspiration to find a way to help himself when no one else could.Using essential techniques of pranayama, yoga, and Ayurveda, Niraj managed to regain his spiritual balance and ultimately heal himself, leaving medication and conventional medicine behind. He has managed to improve his health, but the whole experience left him more curious than ever. He decided to explore and try to answer the question of just how did he manage to help himself when all hope seemed lost.“I was like, “I need to find out why does this work? What is it about it?” I wanted to go deep.” - Niraj NaikExploring the Mechanism and Refining His ArtAvoiding the dogmatic, Niraj dived deep into discovering the mechanics behind his healing process, and once he found answers he was looking for, he continued to explore and develop his own technique to help others achieve optimal health in a more efficient manner. The first step was involving himself with exploring and creating meditational music because he believed it plays a key role in restoring balance and harmony. His works are now validated by the likes of Marisa Peer, which uses his trypnaural melodies in her training videos.Evoking the Brain Change Without Stress“Every artist, I believe, must suffer a little bit in order to really make valuable art.” - Niraj NaikNiraj has observed suffering to be the common thread as the thing that connects artists from different fields. He believes that the stress and adversity they’ve experienced in their life is the factor which allowed them to think outside of the box, expand their minds and evolve.“Everything I do now is all about helping people to invoke that brain change without going through the stress, and the way you do that is by reaching these ecstatic states. Without substances, without narcotics, just using what we already have inside.” - Niraj NaikNiraj wanted to see if he could develop a setting in which people could change the way they think and behave in a safe, controlled environment, without having to experience large amounts of stress and not having to use psychedelic drugs. He researched ancient wisdom of reaching ecstatic states by cultivating the power of our own bodies, which he incorporated into his own method. Using breathwork techniques, Niraj is now teaching others how to cultivate the sexual energy from their bodies and move it up to the brain, in order to create cognitive changes in the brain.“There’s a reason why monks don’t have sex and they’re celibate. It’s because they’re harnessing the sexual energy and transmuting it for a higher purpose.” - Niraj NaikFOFO - The Fear of Feeling OutNiraj talks about getting a handle of our reptilian brain as “charming the snake”. He believes that the number one thing which gets us rattled up and influences the snake the most is FOFO or “the fear of feeling out”. Succumbing to the pressure of fitting in and conforming to the standards of today’s society makes us constantly do things we don’t want, just so we could please the expectations of others, hurting ourselves mentally and physically in the process.“Have a think about how many things are you doing right now that serves your best interests, and how many things that you’re doing are based on what other people expect you to do.” - Niraj NaikUsing what he now calls SOMA (which also stands for ‘the Science of Magnetic Attraction) breathing techniques, accompanied by positive self-talk and optimistic messages, Niraj provides others with the tool to “charm the snake”, master the laws of attraction and to not be a victim of your own stress, but to control it. Niraj has made it his mission to help others realize that by serving the expectations of others, and hurting ourselves in the process, we are actually helping no one in the end. In order to take control of the reptilian fundamentals of our brains, we must cut through all the lies and the rationalizations we tell ourselves.“Be honest with yourself. Always.” - Niraj NaikSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/inspiredevolution. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week’s episode, we‘re joined by Nicole Gibson, a multi-award winning social entrepreneur, published author, but most of all, an unstoppable messenger of love and human potential.When she was 18 years old, she started a not-for-profit company called The Rogue & Rouge Foundation dedicated to battling the mental health stigma through a community-based approach, reaching out to children and parents through schools and community groups. The inspiration for starting her own charitable organization came from her own struggles of dealing with anorexia nervosa throughout her teenage years. She was afraid to return to a society which was not able to understand her struggles, so she made a commitment to passionately rebel against Australia’s negative stereotypes.Over the years, Nicole has received many different awards and honors for her contributions to society, the most prominent one being the Pride of Australia Inspiration Medal in 2014. She was also listed as one of Australia’s top 100 most influential women when she was only 21 years old!Nicole has published her first book titled “Love Out Loud”. It is a personal account of her own journey finding her way back to love, and a guide for others that should help them do the same. Aside from that, Nicole also created a unique Love Out Loud online program which is designed to help you shift your mindset and learn to Love Louder with just 15 minutes a day.Throughout her career, Nicole has spoken to and facilitated workshops and presentations for over 250 000 Australians. Using her own background of 10 years in theatre training, she developed a facilitation method in order to spiritually educate and raise awareness about mental illness.Nicole invites us to transform ourselves, realize our potential and understand our responsibility to give back to the world.Connect with Nicole:Website: https://www.nicolegibson.com.au/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicgibson_/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nicolegibson.unifierLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicole-gibson-unifier/Nicole’s Story of Inspired Evolution“At a young age I had to ask myself quite heavy questions, “Am I prepared to devote the rest of my life”, or even more intense, “Am I prepared to die for, essentially, my Ego.”, which is what was driving my eating disorder.” - Nicole GibsonIn her teenage years, Nicole has struggled with an eating disorder known as anorexia nervosa. She openly describes intricate details and thought processes of dealing with mental illness and points out the “feeling of having to be a particular way to meet other people’s expectations” as the main culprit and driving force behind the disorder. Aside from experiencing great emotional pain, Nicole was suffering from immense physical pain as well.“When you’re dealing with mental illness - it’s very self-oriented.” - Nicole GibsonOne of the key turning points for Nicole came from releasing herself from being the focal point of her overwhelming thoughts and self-analysis. Turning her attention outwards to the world, she “started listening”, and what she received from that listening is a realization that “life is about giving and service.” She understood that there is a greater side to her story, and set upon her path of transformation, even though the path itself was not yet well-defined.“I think we always know how to make it happen, but we’re not always prepared to listen.” - Nicole GibsonHonesty as an Essential Agency for Change“It’s one thing to think positive and know that you can live the life of your dreams, it’s another thing to really face your shit and look at where you’re not being honest.” - Nicole GibsonNicole highlights honesty as one of the key conditions needed for transformation. Being able to be alone with yourself, taking in what comes up and learning how to deal with it is the fundamental step in the process of self-improvement. Once you are able to “sit with your s***”, you will establish spiritual tranquility, meaning you will no longer be a slave to your deep insecurities or negativity but will have more energy to think of practical ways how to and actually overcome them.“Until you’re really honest about where you’re at, you can’t change, you can’t transform.” - Nicole GibsonOr to put it in another way, as a line directly pulled from her book, “We can’t heal what we don’t reveal.” It is necessary to know what the problem is if you’re trying to eradicate or transcend it. She acknowledges meditation as one of the most useful settings for being honest with yourself and expresses piercing insight into why most people find meditation an unpleasant activity at first.“The reason you hate meditation is because every time you try to meditate, the first thing that comes up is your guilt, your shame, and your insecurities, but that’s coming up so that you can be aware of that. And via that awareness, you can actually work through it.” - Nicole GibsonValidation vs. Acknowledgement - Barrier vs. Blessing?“I knew that if I was seeking validation I was never going to feel validated.” - Nicole GibsonNicole makes a very important distinction between two relevant driving forces in our lives. One being validation being a more superficial, potentially damaging and irrelevant for spiritual growth, and the other being acknowledgement, a deeper feeling of appreciation and acceptance which starts with one’s self.“Acknowledgement begins with you. Unless I can look at the person in the mirror, and actually acknowledge myself and my journey, how could I ever feel that or experience that from another person?” - Nicole GibsonAcknowledgement is about giving. It’s about being humble, serving and giving back. Aside from acknowledging yourself, you can also use it to bring out the change in others and also give them strength to their viewpoint.“To receive someone’s gift is to actually to allow their perception of the world to be strengthened by you.” - Nicole GibsonThe Difference Between Being Lonely and Being AloneIn her book “Love Out Loud”, Nicole has condensed her last 7 years of being an unstoppable messenger of love and human potential. She talks all about honesty, acknowledgement, love and the human connection.“The first premise is that we’re all immensely connected. But we’re not always conscious of the fact that we’re connected.” - Nicole GibsonNot being consciously aware and acting upon this idea of being connected with others will most definitely have you ending up in a place of feeling lonely. But being alone is not synonymous with being lonely. No one should choose to loneliness, but we should, from time to time, seek and savor aloneness because it is a prerequisite for personal growth. We need to be able to find the time and give ourselves space to search for wisdom within and explore things that are true to us.“You can and will find solace and peace in your aloneness.” - Nicole GibsonSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/inspiredevolution. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we’re joined by Dr. Neeta Bhushan, a social entrepreneur, best-selling author, international speaker, leadership coach and the advocate of emotional health.Neeta is a former cosmetic dentist. Facing adversity and tragedy throughout her teenage years pushed her into a position of having to fight for herself and her family. After major successes in her education and early career, Neeta quickly found herself in the position of owning a million-dollar practice. However, after years of giving everything she had to create the perfect life, she became emotionally drained and burnt out, stuck in a job she didn’t find fulfilling and in an abusive, poisonous relationship.Neeta sold her practice and went on a journey to find herself. She has traveled the world, visiting 45 countries across 15 years, all the while getting immersed in the field of behavioral psychology. Her intent was to better understand her own personal journey of fighting off adversity and gain insight into the mechanisms which helped her establish herself as a strong, resilient human being. On her journey, she met her partner and soulmate Ajit Nawalkha, who has also appeared as a guest on our show.She had consolidated her collective life experiences and knowledge into a book titled “Emotional GRIT”. In this book, Neeta explores different causes of frustration and burnout, potential solutions for these problems, as well as the notion of emotional resilience and instructions on how to obtain and strengthen it. From burnout to inner peace, from emotional numbness to mindfulness, Neeta’s story of serving love is an inspiration to us all.Connect with Neeta:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drneetabhushan/Website: https://www.neetabhushan.comTwitter: https://twitter.com/NeetaBhushanInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/neetabhushan/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/neetabhushan1111Neeta’s Story of Rising Through Tragedy and AdversityNeeta was raised in a loving and nurturing family, but sadly, she had grown up in dealing with losing them. When she was 16 she lost her mother. At 17 she lost her brother, and at 19 her father passed away, leaving her with immense tragedy and the responsibility of raising and providing for a younger brother. She quickly transitioned from the role of a child to the role of a parent, investing all her energy into her education and career development.Getting a doctorate and building a million-dollar practice was easy, in her own words, but there was more to the life that from the outside looked picture perfect. On the inside, Neeta was struggling. Putting up a strong face for her brother and the rest of her family was a mere mask for hiding the emotional numbness she felt, as a result of being in a toxic relationship and working at a job she didn’t find fulfilling.“From the outside, everything looked picture-perfect, but from the inside, I was spiritually dead, emotionally dead, and just burnt out.” - Dr. Neeta BhushanShe ended up selling her practice, leaving her abusive husband and embarked on a self-searching journey. Traveling all over the world she had discovered a new purpose. Neeta started exploring the world of human behavior and used her very own experiences with adversity to develop a system for transformation and strengthening your resilience. After taking care of herself, she found new fulfillment in helping others and serving love.“In order to serve others, you need to serve yourself first.” - Dr. Neeta BhushanWhat is GRIT?“Grit is really the tenacity to stick with something, even when it is challenging, even when it is tough.” - Dr. Neeta BhushanNeeta’s teachings are based on the concepts of awareness, compassion, empathy, and happiness. She is aiming to help others build their emotional intelligence and strengthen their own resilience muscle for dealing with adversity, tragedy, and loss.She uses GRIT as an acronym which represents the transformation process and contains 4 major stages:Growth - understanding the importance of your own awareness and your ability to self-reflectRevelation - making peace with your past mistakes, and accept the fears & past stories that have held you back to cultivate self-beliefInnovation - making the commitment to embrace change and challenge your thinking from a different perspective and be open to opportunitiesTransformation -  taking the right steps and full action to design the new leadership of your life.It is through these 4 stages that we achieve self-improvement. They do not happen overnight, and they are not a one-time occurrence. It is a pattern of self-acceptance and empowerment which continuously repeats itself on our way to self-actualization and becoming more fulfilled.“It’s cyclical. You never stop growing, you never stop within the cycle, you never stop within the seasons of life.” - Dr. Neeta BhushanBut before you’re able to get involved with the process of transformation, there is a single condition you need to satisfy and that is to be open to change. In order to truly make meaningful modifications in our behavior, we need to be willing, ready and inviting in terms of changing. “If you are building your EQ or your self-awareness, the first part is to be open for growth.” - Dr. Neeta BhushanKeep It Lighthearted“When things get tough in life when stressors come up, when challenges come up, when adversity rises if we take ourselves way too seriously, we’re just going to burst.” - Dr. Neeta BhushanHaving experienced great amounts of stress caused by either tragedy, adversity or overworking herself, Neeta emphasizes the necessity of having a cheerful, lighthearted approach to life. When things get tough, especially in the corporate sense, we need to be able to know when to take a step back, get out of our heads and realize that not everything is as serious as it seems. Or at least it doesn’t have to be. Whether you’re stressing out about a meeting or giving an important lecture in front of a large crowd, it’s important to take things as they go and not to give in to our fears and let them take over us.The problem is that money has been a huge part of our culture in terms of values. But aside from its practical use, money can’t be a substitute for the things we truly need and yearn for in life. Love, happiness, fulfillment, finding your true purpose… You simply can’t put a price tag on some things in life. “The success parameter has always been around how much do you make, and nobody really talks about the success being - happiness.” - Dr. Neeta BhushanFear as a Key Obstacle“You are your biggest block. So if you are your biggest block always, in starting new things, and doing new things, in getting things done, then you will have to surrender to whatever that fear is in order to be open to growing.” - Dr. Neeta BhushanFear is an essential emotional aspect of life. During our formative years, it has a very useful function in teaching us to avoid certain obvious threats we may face. The problem is as we grow older and become more socialized, the list of things we define as threats becomes longer and longer. Some fears are caused by specific social situations, but more often than not, fear comes from imagining what might go wrong. Not completing a certain task, not achieving your goal, not being accepted by others… Those anxious thoughts are created within ourselves by ourselves, and we need to recognize and face them. In her book, Neeta also points out ways to detect these fear patterns and calls us to act in spite of them in search for acceptance.“When you’re actually open to those fears, and you take action anyway, then you’re able to accept your current reality.” - Dr. Neeta BhushanTransformation and Serving LoveThemes of transformation and serving love keep reappearing throughout the conversation. Through her own personal experience, Neeta has come to a realization that the true way of achieving happiness is through love and caring for others. She continues to help others by guiding them through the process of recognizing their own true values, accepting their true selves, strengthening their resilience and opening themselves to change.“There are aspects of yourself that are willing to be birthed right now. And what does that transformation look like for you?” - Dr. Neeta BhushanSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/inspiredevolution. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we’re joined by Rhea Lalla, an entrepreneur, certified trainer, parenting coach, speaker, author, and an emotional intelligence specialist. She is the founder of Build Great Minds, she offers private coaching, online courses and leads live seminars on building highly developed emotional, intellectual and creative skills sets in kids, so they achieve success in all areas of lifePrior to starting her own business, Rhea has been a part of the corporate world gaining valuable experience in coaching and training, all the while working with executives and senior management. She has worked all over the world in places like North America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and the Caribbean.Back in 2012, she started Build Great Minds which offers parents private coaching, online courses and leads live seminars on building highly developed emotional, intellectual and creative skills sets in kids, so they achieve success in all areas of life. Rhea is helping parents conceptualize unwelcome patterns in their behavior and teaches new ones, useful to both the parent and the child.Whether she’s building apartments out of shipping containers in the Caribbean or helping parents develop a healthier, more nurturing and more fulfilling relationships with their children, Rhea is constantly searching for a way to improve herself, determined to see the world in the most beautiful, positive way possible.Connect with Rhea:Website: http://buildgreatminds.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhea-lalla-a521b83a/Twitter: https://twitter.com/rhea_lallaRhea’s Origin Story: What Experiences Have Led Her to Become an EQ Specialist“I’ve always been in the world of emotional intelligence.” - Rhea LallaRhea’s upbringing was unconventional. From a very young age, she was guided to express her creativity freely, in terms of perspective taking and self-awareness. There is a strong connection between Rhea’s ability to sense, feel and respond to people’s emotions and need, and the simple game of trying to guess what are other people in the park thinking. Learning and growing through these games, in a safe, loving and nurturing environment, allowed her to pick up emotional cues and patterns in behavior, essential aspects of emotional intelligence.But these guessing games also allowed her to understand and develop a crucial technique she will later come to use and apply in everyday life situations. The ability to produce different explanations for why a certain scenario played out, informs you about the complexities of life. There could be many reasons why a person did what they did or said what they said, and it is important not to get attached to the idea there is a one, single way of interpreting the situation. Allow yourself to witness a whole spectrum of possibilities, and choose to accept the one which will give you the most optimistic and positive version of life.“You start accumulating a variety of reasons as to why somebody is behaving, or responding or communicating in a particular way. And what you learn is not to get attached to any “one” way of thinking.” - Rhea LallaThe Importance of Naming Emotions in Early Childhood Experiences“So much of how we see the world, how we respond to the world, how we feel about ourselves, is intrinsically determined in those first 5 to 10 years.”We discuss how much the formative years of our development affect what type of person we’re going to become. All of what we’re experiencing as children is seeping into our subconscious, conditioning the way we see, feel and interact with the world around us.Not being able to name a specific emotion is a real problem for children. The frustration it brings forces them to shun and disassociate from certain emotions, which can eventually be wiped out from their emotional landscape. It is the parent’s role to recognize specific emotions that the child is experiencing, and to propose a name for what they’re feeling.“It’s so important, at a very young age, to help children understand their emotional space and give them language.” - Rhea LallaAre Emotions Being Neglected in Today’s Society?“I think that emotions have been ignored far too long, and this is our opportunity to do a deep dive into the places we may have been afraid to.” - Rhea LallaIt looks like doing anything to get away from feelings has become a standard in dealing with them. Distracting ourselves and not allowing to feel our own emotions is a huge part of the problem people are experiencing in their everyday lives. Rhea invites us to feel our feelings. Emotions are in our physiology, and we need to allow ourselves to experience them with the entirety of our being. They have been designed to help you on your life’s journey, and if we’re so focused on dismissing them, we will be losing a valuable source of information about the world, and distort the way in which we interpret life.“A human being is a human feeling.” - Rhea LallaThe Parenting Journey and How to Re-parent Yourself“Parents will always do better than what their parents did, and that’s the natural state of things.” - Rhea LallaRhea believes that working with parents has been the most challenging aspect of her entire career. Helping people help their children is a noble, but also a very difficult task. But the secret to being a better parent is not some knowledge and wisdom you can just acquire and have all the answers. It is not an achievement you unlock. The answer lies in the approach. It’s about asking the right questions, and being open and creative in answering them. No two situations will be completely identical, and neither will there be a “one-size-fits-all“ solution. The real gift in Rhea’s teachings is understanding that in order to really achieve transformation, you need to ask yourself the question: “What is it about me, that created that?”“There is no arrival point… It is every day, you say, “I’m going to climb a mountain”, and you make 3 steps up and 2 steps down. But the difference is, every day you say, “I want to be on the mountain!” - Rhea LallaNonverbal Communication and Why is Feedback Important?“It’s in the slightest eyebrow tweak, it’s in the slightest lip curl that the entire message gets changed.” - Rhea LallaThere is a completely latent aspect of communication we’re often overlooking. Beneath all the verbal, there is a sea of nonverbal. A world of gestures, movements, postures, facial expressions which not only convey valuable information, but are often coinciding with the spoken language, and looking for congruity between the two is one of the arts of understanding emotional intelligence. That is why we need to be authentic in our nonverbal communication if we want to get our message across and in a clear manner.“If much of what we’re doing is in our blind spots, you have to fetishize feedback.” - Rhea LallaYet, so much is still unavailable to us, especially about our own behavior. Some things are just a matter of perspective, and that is why feedback is such a useful tool in transformation and self-improvement. Rhea shares her own experiences about asking for and receiving feedback from her friends, partner, and even her own children. It’s important to explain the end goal of the process of asking for their opinions because these are the people who love you the most, and their first instinct might be to protect you or to rationalize away from useful criticism. “Do the work, know that there’s no perfection, and just watch how beautiful all that unfolding can be.” - Rhea LallaSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/inspiredevolution. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.