Welcome to The Contemplative Life!

Spirituality Podcast

Ep 184   Activating & Reactivating
July 30, 2024

Ep 184 Activating & Reactivating

Send us a text Today we explore aspects of activating something new and reactivating former parts of our lives. Discover how these 2 aspects build off each other. Support the show
E 174     4 Lessons from Nature
May 21, 2024

E 174 4 Lessons from Nature

Send us a text Join us today as we explore 4 ways we are currently engaging in nature. We hope this inspires you to find your own inspiration outdoors. Additional resources: https://www.scottericksonart.com/ https://www.instagram.com/scottthepainter/ Support the show
Ep 171 Goodbyes and Hellos
April 29, 2024

Ep 171 Goodbyes and Hellos

Send us a text Today is a special episode where we hear from Dr. Kristina Kaiser about her doctoral work with the topic of Joy. It also marks the final episode with Kristina as our co-host, as she plans to focus more time and energy towards this work. Tune in as we learn more about the academic, emotional and spiritual aspects of joy. To follow Kristina: kristinamkaiser@gmail.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristina-kaiser-73a00337/ Sign up for our newsletter here : https://foundrys...
Ep 170 Deconstructing Our Faith
April 22, 2024

Ep 170 Deconstructing Our Faith

Send us a text Today we are joined by spiritual director Heather Watts exploring the journey of deconstructing faith. We discuss how spiritual guidance can provide space to be heard, wonder together and sit with uncertainties one faces in these seasons. Additional Resources Listening and Caring Skills by John Savage Sign up for our newsletter here : https://foundrysc.com/about/newsletter Support the show
Ep 167 Reverse Golden Rule
167
April 1, 2024

Ep 167 Reverse Golden Rule

Send us a text Many of us have heard that we ought to do unto others as we would have done unto ourselves. But how many of us have heard that we ought to treat ourselves with the same kindness and respect we offer to others? Certainly, loving ourselves sounds good in theory, but the daily practice of it is quite another thing. It can be helpful to ask ourselves: What protective measures have we put in place that now keep us from being in touch with what we really enjoy and need? Join us as we...
Ep 166 Stress vs Stressors
166
March 25, 2024

Ep 166 Stress vs Stressors

Send us a text Stress is a part of life and can happen in both big and small ways. On today’s podcast, we consider how the contemplative life can help us recognize what’s happening so that we can respond in more balanced ways more and more often. Do you find yourself sometimes feeling flush with emotions? Or, on the opposite side of that, do you sometimes try to ignore emotions in favor of just the facts? When we are feeling more at ease and connected, our brains are able to engage with both ...
Ep 165 Emotional Labor
165
March 18, 2024

Ep 165 Emotional Labor

Send us a text On this week’s podcast, we’re talking about what it takes to be present to those things that are taking up mental real estate in our heads, buzzing in the background, ticker taping through our heads, and the like. Do you sometimes find yourself blowing up when you normally would have been able to remain calm? Having trouble sleeping? Feeling the need to put everyone and everything on mute? All of these, and more, can be signs that you are experiencing undue loads of emotional l...
Ep 164 Recalibrating
164
March 11, 2024

Ep 164 Recalibrating

Send us a text Do you ever find yourself feeling frustrated or confused about which way to go next? In this episode, we talk about the helpfulness of being able to take a pause as a way of getting our bearings again, whether those pauses are related to something in particular, a season of life, or the need for discernment within a larger group. Wondering if you have enough capacity for what’s being asked of you? Asking questions about how to navigate a tricky situation? Feeling like you’re ju...
Ep 162 Thoughts on AI
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Feb. 26, 2024

Ep 162 Thoughts on AI

Send us a text Artificial Intelligence (AI) is here to stay and is rapidly changing our world. For some, a tool like this can bring about equity in their lives. But in our individualistic society, where we are applauded for the ways in which we can stand out, will everyone be willing to applaud this equity? At the same time, many have taken to warning us about the dangers of AI. Join us as we talk about how the contemplative can aid us in these kinds of dialogues. What spaces exist for us to ...
Ep 161 Loneliness Epidemic
161
Feb. 19, 2024

Ep 161 Loneliness Epidemic

Send us a text Do you ever feel lonely, even if you’re in a room with other people? Do you sometimes feel like you’re missing that sense of meaningful connection in your life? If so, you’re not alone. For a variety of reasons, common social interactions have shifted over the years, leaving us with an epidemic of loneliness. Join us as we talk about how the contemplative life can be of use to us in our current environment. Let’s take a long, loving look at what’s real and discover what’s there...
Ep 160 Best Case Scenarios
160
Feb. 12, 2024

Ep 160 Best Case Scenarios

Send us a text How many times have we heard someone say, “Let me just play devil’s advocate here for a moment.” For many of us, it’s a total mind shift to ask a question in the opposite spirit. What if instead of asking what could go wrong we spent even a little bit of time asking what could go right? Who would be served? What possibilities might open up? What freedoms might be gained? In a world where we’ve learned to live with our possible lack in mind, what would happen if we chose to live...
Ep 159 Community Care
159
Feb. 5, 2024

Ep 159 Community Care

Send us a text After several weeks of hearing from others about how they think about self-care given their particular experiences of life, we turn our attention today to thinking about the community. Who do we turn to when we need help? And fo that matter, do we believe that we can turn to others? Or do we tend to live with the feeling that we have to do it all alone? Join us as we talk about how being both givers and receivers of care has been not only life-giving but absolutely life-changin...
Ep 140 I’m Feeling…Numb
140
Sept. 25, 2023

Ep 140 I’m Feeling…Numb

Send us a text Many of us can relate to feeling like there’s just too much, that whatever we’re doing is never enough, that the things we’re facing are more than we can bear. We live in a culture that is constantly calling us to more and that asks us to continually be at the top of our game. On this week’s podcast, we talk about why so many of us revert to numbing when we begin to feel those feelings of overwhelm, stress, and exhaustion. We examine how the contemplative life can help us in th...
Ep 139 I’m Feeling…Muted
139
Sept. 18, 2023

Ep 139 I’m Feeling…Muted

Send us a text Do you ever feel sort of blah, like you’re neither quite happy but not necessarily depressed either - just, sort of, in the middle? On this week’s podcast, we explore reasons for why this feeling can occur. We talk about when this might be a good thing for us, when it’s okay to just rest in that space. But we also talk about what to do when this is less of a good thing for us. Join us as we talk about how the contemplative life can help us tend to what is going on, both interna...
Ep 138 I’m Feeling…Jumbled
138
Sept. 11, 2023

Ep 138 I’m Feeling…Jumbled

Send us a text Ever feel unsure about what to think? Find yourself having trouble expressing yourself? This week’s podcast leads us to talking about how using our contemplative practices can be of use when we’re feeling too much inner swirl. Whether we’re trying to get back into the swing of things or we just don’t know where to go next, feeling jumbled is an experience common to us all. And because no two people or situations are exactly alike, the things that each of us needs in any particu...
Ep 137 I’m Feeling…Spiritual Loneliness
137
Sept. 4, 2023

Ep 137 I’m Feeling…Spiritual Loneliness

Send us a text For those who aren’t sure if their questions are welcome, for those who have physically been relocated, for those who are wondering if they need a new community, for anyone feeling spiritually without friends or company…This week’s podcast aims to encourage the one who is feeling grief and loss spiritually. It is okay to name your feelings. Join us as we talk about what it looks like to return to balance in this area of our wellbeing - because when one part of us is feeling unw...
Ep 128  Do-Overs, Apologizing & Forgiveness
128
July 3, 2023

Ep 128 Do-Overs, Apologizing & Forgiveness

Send us a text Sometimes the words fly out of our mouth too fast, or we hit the send button too soon. Our desire to have a good relationship is there, but we need a do-over. On this week’s podcast, we talk about what it takes to do more than put a bandaid over the wounds we inflict on one another. Sometimes, it’s as simple as starting the conversation over. But at other times, we may need more. When this happens, it’s likely time to take steps related to the deeper journey of forgiveness, or ...
Ep 127 Healing
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June 26, 2023

Ep 127 Healing

Send us a text What does it look like to experience healing in the spiritual sense? Healing is often a journey requiring support, nourishment, and practice. In this week’s podcast, we take time to consider a few common triggers that have historically created wounding. We talk about why healing is best done in a holistic environment. And we talk about the importance of going slow so that we don’t shock our systems beyond what they can bear. Healing is a vulnerable subject, but the need for hea...
Ep 126 Transitions
126
June 19, 2023

Ep 126 Transitions

Send us a text Today we contemplate the difference between “the good” and “the perfect.” Oftentimes, we live our lives through the lens of a series of expectations. But what happens when those expectations don’t play out the way we thought they would? What does it look like to explore our lives with the understanding that life is dynamic - always changing, always being reborn? Join us as we consider the in-between spaces of our lives from the perspective of possibility. Additional Resources...
Ep 125  Increasing Our Wellbeing
125
June 12, 2023

Ep 125 Increasing Our Wellbeing

Send us a text Many of us have probably heard someone say, “Oh that’s just the way that I am,” which causes us to believe we can never change, which then causes us to feel stuck, which then lowers our sense of wellbeing. But on this week’s podcast, we talk about 4 key areas you can focus on in order to increase your sense of wellbeing. Join us as we talk about the journey-like nature of wellbeing, the twists and turns we’ve discovered on our own journeys, and what sorts of things are contribu...
Ep 122 Leaning into Acceptance
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May 22, 2023

Ep 122 Leaning into Acceptance

Send us a text The unexpected crops up in our lives in both little and small ways. At times, we manage to accept these experiences easily. In other moments, the things we encounter require a bit more processing. Drawing on the wisdom of poets, children, and spiritual teachers, this week’s podcast leans into talking about that which feels like too much to accept. Do you ever find yourself bitterly complaining, blowing up in anger, or bursting into tears? Though these may not be our favorite mo...
Ep 120 Nurturing our Interspiritual Friendships
120
May 8, 2023

Ep 120 Nurturing our Interspiritual Friendships

Send us a text Human nature tends to be such that we want to figure out who we are, who “our people'' are, and then settle into whatever feels easiest and most familiar. What’s more, psychologically speaking, our brains appear to be hard-wired to seek out people who look, think, behave, and even believe similarly to ourselves. But on the other side of that coin, an increasing number of people are discovering that an even deeper faith life has become possible by leaning into differences and ev...
Ep 118 Spirituality in Times of Wilderness
118
April 24, 2023

Ep 118 Spirituality in Times of Wilderness

Send us a text The (Spiritual) Wilderness is often associated with times of dryness. It may be that we come to find ourselves thrust suddenly into this world by way of suffering, trauma, and loss. We may experience it alone or in community with others. But however we arrive there, it would seem that the Wilderness cannot be avoided. And so, on this week’s podcast, we talk about what might be possible during those seasons. Can we rely on something deeper inside ourselves? Can we shift our poin...
Ep 117  Ways We Engage with Money
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April 17, 2023

Ep 117 Ways We Engage with Money

Send us a text Money can be a challenging topic, fraught with emotions and baggage that we may or may not even be aware of. But on this week’s podcast, we talk about the value of having a safe space to become still, to look at our values, and to become aware of where our notions and feelings about money are coming from. In that sort of environment, we have the freedom to become gentle with ourselves, to name what we have learned, and to gain a sense of clarity around what is needed financiall...