Good to Talk
Jeremiah Simmons and E Ward
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Conversations between a therapist and artist about the good flow of life. Good to Talk is a podcast produced by Jeremiah Simmons and E Ward. The hope of these Good to Talks is to build community around shared interests and helpful conversations.This content is not intended to act in place of professional medical advice, to diagnose, or to treat. If you are having an emergency please dial 911.
Available episodes
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Oldest first
Mar 14, 2023
Making Progress
In this episode, Jeremiah and E explore how to make progress. Feeling stuck or struggling to make progress can be a point of frustration for many of us. In this episode, we unpack some of the meta-narratives standing in our way and highlight some of the important ideas to make sense of in moving forward. Planning long-term, acting short-term, and taking radical ownership of our stories all help us grow towards our goals.
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Feb 28, 2023
Open Mindedness (2/2)
In this episode, Jeremiah and E continue discussing the benefits of open-mindedness. If you haven't already, check out Episode 45, part one of this topic.
In part two, we discuss some of the ways in which we can become more self aware, keep an open mind, and not stand in the way of our own rational thinking and growth. Open-mindedness offers us a freedom to be helped by the strengths and perspectives of those around us. It also frees us for greater growth, recognizing that no decision is set in stone and we always have the freedom to change. Last, and perhaps most importantly, open-mindedness facilitates understanding. An open mindset creates opportunity for discussion, disagreement, and ultimately learning. As always, thank you for listening along with us!
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Feb 14, 2023
Romantic Communication
In this episode, we are interrupting our two part series on open mindedness to discuss Romantic Communication in honor of Valentine's Day. Though Valentine's day can feel a bit like a marketing scheme, it is also an excellent opportunity to purposely focus on gratitude and celebration of the ones we love and hold dearest. In this episode, we explore the importance of good communication strategies, intentionality, and empathy in our relationships.
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Jan 31, 2023
Open Mindedness (1/2)
In this episode, Jeremiah and E discuss the difficulties and dangers of being close minded. It can be difficult to remain open minded when we derive much of our relational security from being right. Our egos tell us that being right means gaining power, having autonomy, and ultimately finding acceptance. Our sense of emotional security and even our own physiology can work against us making maintaining an open mind incredibly difficult. Here we consider some of the reasons it can be profoundly difficult to live openly. In part two, we discuss some of the ways in which we can become more self aware, keep an open mind, and not stand in the way of our own rational thinking and growth.
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Jan 17, 2023
Creativity
Jeremiah and E are kicking off Season 3 with an episode about the importance of Creativity. From our earliest ancestors, creativity has played a massive role in finding fulfillment in existence. Invention, abstract thinking, imagination can help us serve others and expand our worlds in positive ways and be a place of much purpose across the human lifespan. As always, thank you for joining us!
Visit our website at:
https://goodtotalk.co
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https://instagram.com/goodtotalk.co
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Jan 3, 2023
New Year: How to Begin and Sustain Growth
Happy New Year! The first episode of 2023 is also the final episode of Season 2. In this episode, Jeremiah and E consider what it means to name goals and keep ourselves motivated while achieving them. As we often begin, doing the work of reflection is an important first step in accomplishment. Understanding the deeper threads running through our desires will ultimately help us set appropriately tailored goals and also facilitate our ability to stay motivated. Dreaming and establishing vision will help insulate us from failures and setbacks by better focusing our efforts. Lastly, inspiration and willful commitment will ultimately carry us forward towards a more fulfilling flow of life. As always, thank you for joining us!
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Dec 20, 2022
Living Generously: Happy Holidays
In this episode, Jeremiah and E discuss the challenges of living and giving generously. Because the holidays can often represent a season of stress for many of us, we wanted to examine how we can make this time of year less about obligations and frantic plan-making and more of a chance to slow down, reflect, celebrate, and enjoy our time with friends and family. We wish you a very happy holiday and hope that you can enjoy the good flow of life to its fullest!
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Dec 6, 2022
Appreciating Cinema
In this episode, Jeremiah and E discuss the impact movies can have on our lives. A good film can expose us to new ideas and opportunities and offer us a glimpse of a life we may never otherwise see. Inspiring our imaginations and broadening our perspectives, this is a lighthearted episode about appreciating cinema.
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Nov 22, 2022
Guide to Gratitude: Thanksgiving
In this episode, Jeremiah and E discuss why counting our blessings works. Gratitude is desire fulfilled. It's the culmination of what we want and what now get to enjoy. Sadly, few of us actively engage our desires in this way and thus miss out on our full potential for feeling fulfilled and to be at peace. Gratitude takes awareness and practice, but it gives joy and brings peace.
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Nov 8, 2022
Cultivating Calm
In this episode, Jeremiah and E discuss the finding calm in the midst of chaos. The Stoic disciplines of desire, assent, and action help us focus on what is in and what is out of our control. Moderation is not punishment, but rather finding the balance and ultimate place of peace in all things.
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Oct 25, 2022
Memento Mori
In this episode, Jeremiah and E discuss the stoic philosophy of "memento mori" in honor of Halloween. The latin, "memento mori" or in english, "remember that you must die," gives us pause and has us consider the fleeting nature of existence and the value of the present. The slightly less macabre extension of "memento mori" is "memento vivere" or "remember to live."
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Oct 10, 2022
Technology and Balance
In this episode, Jeremiah and E discuss how to wield technology well, appreciating it for its uses while staying conscious of life in the analogue. Jeremiah and E also share a few of their personal favorite technologies. After a few serious episodes in a row, this conversation stays a bit more lighthearted.
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Sep 27, 2022
Honoring Emotions (3/3)
In this episode, Jeremiah and E conclude their conversation about honoring emotions. This Good to Talk is focused on how to share our emotions healthily within our communities. Improving our self awareness and learning how to communicate our feelings effectively not only honors ourselves, but also the people around us.
* Reflection
* Connection
* Communication
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Sep 13, 2022
Honoring Emotions (2/3)
In this episode, Jeremiah and E discuss understanding and experiencing healthy feelings through honoring our emotions. We can integrate our feelings into awareness, think clearly about our judgements, and trust our instincts and actions to act responsibly. When we honor our emotions, they can help us grow to see ourselves more clearly and lead healthier lives.
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Aug 30, 2022
Honoring Emotions (1/3)
In this episode, Jeremiah and E discuss understanding and experiencing healthy feelings by honoring our emotions. While most everyone enjoys happy emotions, painful ones can feel like they often impede relationships and hinder our personal growth. Even for those of us who do not express our emotions outwardly, our feelings are still at the core of our lived experiences. Understanding how to curate and cultivate healthy emotional lives and relationships is absolutely worth our time. Building awareness around our emotions requires reflection and connection with ourselves and leads to better communication with those around us.
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Jul 1, 2022
Imposter Syndrome
In this episode, Jeremiah and E discuss what it means to feel grounded and confident in our pursuits while keeping Imposter Syndrome at bay.
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Jun 14, 2022
Celebrating Pride
In this episode, Jeremiah and E discuss Celebrating Pride in he month of June. Pride is about authenticity and being proud to be oneself. It is a celebration of life and community and it is inclusive. Pride is also a protest of the status quo. We approached this conversation seeking to make sense of how the broader world orients towards the LGBTQ+ community and celebrations of Pride, and the work that is left to be done. Pride is a gift to everyone.
* hate - active antagonization, discriminatory
* tolerance - apathetic, dismissive, ignores dignity
* acceptance - equitable, mutually respectful, the right to take up space
* celebration - relationship oriented, encouraging, communal
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Jun 3, 2022
The 5 Love Languages
In this episode, Jeremiah and E discuss the five love languages outlined by the work of Dr. Gary Chapman. Though these do not have significant scientific support, we felt they were still helpful to discuss as conversation starters for examining the many ways in which we love others and also receive love in return.
* Words of Affirmation
* Acts of Service
* Receiving Gifts
* Quality Time
* Physical Touch
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May 20, 2022
Learning from Travel
In this episode, Jeremiah and E discuss the importance of travel. Travel helps us connect to our selves and others while also helping to reframe the ordinary.
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May 5, 2022
Friendship
In this episode, Jeremiah and E explore friendship. Friendship feels validating, honest, and kind and can look like sharing joys, experiences, and troubles. Healthy friendship does not always include shared values, it isn't without conflict, and it isn't always available. Please join us as we examine the importance of our relationships with our friends.
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Apr 20, 2022
Pursuing Passion: Living Out Joy
In this episode, Jeremiah and E explore what it means to share life and find joy in their passions. Though this episode is very conversational and freeform, there are three main anchor points discussed:
* Know what you love
* Practice what you love
* Sacrifice for what you love
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Apr 1, 2022
Critical Thinking: Wisdom, Discernment, and the Scientific Method (4/4)
In this episode, Jeremiah and E wrap up the fourth and final installment of their series on critical thinking. This episode also serves as part two of a discussion about wisdom, discernment. and the scientific method. Here they explore the intersections of philosophy and science to examine how we arrive at truth.
Using stoic principles and some major themes from various schools of philosophy, Jeremiah breaks down the quest for truth and meaning into three categories.
* Taking personal responsibility to evaluate truths
* Using moral wisdom or ethics to try, think, and grow forward despite a lack of objectively "right" systems
* Understanding lived logic by living well and feeling happiness
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Mar 18, 2022
Critical Thinking: Wisdom, Discernment, and the Scientific Method (3/4)
In this episode, Jeremiah and E continue exploring critical thinking. Parts 1 and 2 were about logical fallacies and cognitive biases. Now, part 3 moves the conversation forward into philosophy and science.
The main branches of Philosophy are:
* Axiology: Study of the nature of value and valuation
* Metaphysics: Study of the fundamental nature of reality
* Epistemology: Study of the nature, origin, and limits of human knowledge
* Ethics Philosophy: Study of what is right and wrong in human behavior
* Aesthetics: Study of beauty and taste
* Logic Philosophy: Study of the nature and types of logic
* Political Philosophy: Study of government, addressing questions about the nature, scope, and legitimacy of public agents and institutions
The steps of the scientific method include:
* Observation
* Questioning
* Hypothesis
* Prediction
* Experimentation
* Draw Conclusions
* Repeat and Share
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Mar 3, 2022
Critical Thinking: Cognitive Biases (2/4)
In this episode of Good to Talk, Jeremiah and E explore further into thinking critically by way of cognitive biases. Cognitive biases are our systematic inclinations towards certain patterns of erroneous thinking or "irrationality." The most important difference between biases and the fallacies discussed in our previous episode is that biases affect how you interpret and process information, while fallacies relate to how you construct your arguments and communicate your ideas.
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Feb 15, 2022
Critical Thinking: Logical Fallacies (1/4)
In this episode of the Good to Talk podcast, Jeremiah and E discuss eight logical fallacies to consider when thinking critically. Logical fallacies are flaws in an argument that weakens the argument or makes the conclusion invalid. These flaws, which may be committed deliberately or by accident, include drawing of false conclusions, distortion of an issue, an erroneous line of reasoning, misuse of evidence, or misuse of language.
* Burden of Proof
* Genetic
* Anecdotal Evidence
* Black or White Thinking
* Middle Ground
* Ad Hominem
* Bandwagon
* Appeal to Authority
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Jan 18, 2022
Sustainable Resolutions: Happy New Year
In this episode, Jeremiah and E look back on some of the year behind and explore what it means to set sustainable resolutions or goals for the future. Setting goals with a sense of realism and intention can be incredibly helpful as we look ahead. Jeremiah points out that in setting sustainable resolutions we must accept responsibility, find inspiration within ourselves, celebrate progress, remain disciplined, and realize that contentment and happiness are here now throughout the journey.
To everyone who has listened or contributed, thank you for an incredible first year!
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Dec 24, 2021
Happy Holidays: Celebrating Well
In this episode, Jeremiah and E discuss ending the year well. Though life tends to get extra busy for the last part of the year, it is important to be intentional with our time. Making space for relationships, rest, and reflection can help the holiday season feel less chaotic and allow us to set our next year up with a sense of closure and catharsis.
Happy holidays from Jeremiah and E! We wish you a safe and meaningful season and we look forward to more good talks next year.
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Nov 24, 2021
Give Thanks: The Empowerment of a Thankful Mindset (Thanksgiving)
In this episode, Jeremiah and E discuss thankfulness and its benefits. Thankfulness helps us evaluate our lives more accurately and reframe away from our brains' hardwired pattern of constantly looking for what's missing, instead shifting its focus towards what's happening in the present. It centers us back to the now and empowers us to reconnect to the available options that bring pleasure and peace that are already readily accessible to us. Keeping a headspace of gratitude helps us genuinely feel happier and also lets us communicate more kindly, building better relationships. Happy Thanksgiving to all our listeners and thank you for your support this year!
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Nov 6, 2021
Understanding Anger (2/2)
In this episode, Jeremiah and E discuss anger again, this time from the perspective of how to control it. In approaching our own anger, it is important to consider it before it happens, be mindful of it while we're experiencing it, and to examine it after we've felt it as well. Anger can not only be a tool for pointing us towards deeper emotions, but it can also help us strengthen our significant relationships if we understand how to interact with it and harness it. The goal isn't to be perfect, but rather to continue growing and edifying ourselves as well as those around us.
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Oct 21, 2021
Understanding Anger (1/2)
In this episode, Jeremiah and E discuss anger, understanding it and how to communicate through it. Healthy anger states, “I am angry because I am valuable and am not being treated as valuable.” It is connected to our sense of self. Anger can get a bit of a bad rap, but it isn't a bad emotion. It only becomes hurtful in the way that we use it and communicate with it. Consider the differences between observation and perception, take pause and ask yourself what is beneath this anger that I am feeling. The problem with anger isn’t in that you feel it, it’s in how you express it. Let it act as a compass for guiding you towards different outcomes that meet your needs and wants.
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Oct 1, 2021
Learning to Listen
In this episode Jeremiah and E discuss how to more intentionally listen through the backronym E.M.P.A.T.H.Y. Empathy is the ability or practice of imagining or trying to deeply understand what someone else is feeling or what it’s like to be in their situation. Empathy is often described as the ability to feel what others are feeling as if you are feeling it yourself. Listening well requires:
E: Emotional Engagement
M: Mirror
P: Pause, Paraphrase, Label, and Summarize
A: Avoid Judgement
T: Tone and Body Language
H: How and What
Y: Your Ideas and Opinions
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Sep 3, 2021
Vocation: Personal Meaning (3/3)
In this, the third and last installment in our Vocation series, we approach finding a career from an existential perspective. Jeremiah and E advocate for knowing self, staying in balance and trusting the process, and remaining open handed to new experiences.
This episode is structured around the Delphic Maxims inscribed on the Temple of Apollo at Delphi. Originally, they were said to have been given by the Greek god Apollo's Oracle at Delphi. The three maxims are: "Know Thyself" (Nosce te ipsum), "Nothing in excess" (me quid nimis), and "Surety, then ruin" (vere conturbat).
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Aug 4, 2021
Vocation: In Service To Others (2/3)
In this episode, Jeremiah and E explore vocation through the lens of the Stoic philosophy of Summum Bonum. We consider asking ourselves a question Alan Watts posed often, "what do we desire?" or differently put, "what makes us happy?" We then add a secondary question of, "who does our desire serve, who does it help?" Considering what makes us happy and how we can positively impact others can be a simple way to figure out what we might want to do for our vocation or how we might like to spend our time.
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Jul 17, 2021
Vocation: Connected To Who You Are (1/3)
In this episode, Jeremiah and E discuss the topic of vocation through the first of three lenses. This first part is focused on the normative, or big ideas, frame of reference. We ask ourselves about our gifts and abilities, what our desires and dreams might be, and finally who might be our chosen community.
Or more simply phrased:
"What are you good at?"
"What do you like to do?"
"Who do you like to be with?"
We hope you find this discussion helpful and practical.
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Jul 10, 2021
The Freedom To Be Different: Why Weirdness Rules
In this episode, Jeremiah and E talk about why the freedom to be different is so valuable. Innovators, dreamers, visionaries, and really everyone can be a little weird. It is good to find ourselves and live authentically. This enables us to express and create in beautiful new ways and ultimately benefits society by championing inclusivity, empathy, actualization, and freedom.
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Jul 2, 2021
Building Intimacy: Seen, Known, and Loved
On this week's episode Jeremiah and E, discuss connecting with the self and finding intimacy with others. Most of us have preferences in the ways we give and receive intimacy. Knowing self and knowing others in your world gives you greater perspicacity in giving and receiving. It is important to remember that there are no formal areas of intimacy, and all ideas of intimacy overlap and sync up. You are a complex being capable of experiencing many levels of desire, connection, and emotion all at once. Intimacy can be experienced in many ways including, intellectually, experientially, existentially, and physically.
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Jun 25, 2021
Areas of Affirmation
Safe and secure (I am safe)
Loved and Valuable (I am lovable)
Strong and Capable (I am enough)
The tricky part for our self worth or the ways we value ourselves, is this is often taught to us first by our parents and caregivers and ultimately becomes our core beliefs, which are usually formed before the age of seven. These beliefs impact all kinds of our behaviors, both conscious and unconscious, and can often be the hidden road map to where we direct our lives. “Who am I” then tends to be a question that already has an answer in our minds and hearts before we get to the age to even truly answer it for ourselves.
So, maybe you are currently internalizing a “truth” about yourself that isn’t necessarily true but only staying apart of how you see yourself based on your core beliefs? Maybe it’s not who you are but what you were taught?
We’re always defining ourselves and once you realize you are radically capable of hacking into that system and adding fresh and new data ab…
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Jun 18, 2021
Finding Meaning Through Art
Jeremiah and E discuss finding meaning through art. One definition of art is the human activity of creating items and experiences that engage the thoughts, emotions, and senses and that communicates and connects with the beholder. Our hope is to offer some handholds for engaging art, and through art, a chance to better access meaning within ourselves and others.
Tolstoy defined art as the following: "Art is a human activity consisting in this, that one man consciously, by means of certain external signs, hands on to others feelings he has lived through, and that other people are infected by these feelings and also experience them."
Consume: Take it in
Create: Do it
Collaborate: Share it
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Jun 11, 2021
Mastering Motivation
Jeremiah and E talk about how to stay motivated and not feel defeated before ever beginning. Jeremiah breaks down the steps leading up to taking action and posits that we often see the process of learning new things and accomplishing our goals backwards. Putting things back in order helps us to give ourselves grace throughout the learning process and better commit to following through.
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Jun 3, 2021
Loving Well
Jeremiah and E discuss what it means to love well. Healthy love risks vulnerability and is connected to purpose (why), committed to service (who), and considerate of self (how). Though it manifests in many different ways, Jeremiah and E share a few personal examples of how they have experienced love.
See also amor fati and sympatheia.
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May 28, 2021
Understanding the Enneagram: Instinctive Center, Reaction and Trust (4/4)
In this episode, Jeremiah and E finish discussing the Enneagram focusing on the Instinctive Center. Keys to remember when it comes to the Enneagram: Awareness is what leads to transformation. Remember, that as you learn more about yourself, your type, and your center, the key is to let that self awareness lead to letting go, not further striving. Let the learning lead to freedom from self, releasing yourself from the ego’s fixation that first protected and served you, but which now can be released.
The Instinctive Triad can be broken down into types 8 or the Challenger, 9 or the Peacemaker, and 1 or the Reformer. The Instinct Triad is concerned with how their bodies feel and work, basic functioning of life and survival. If you think about any place of health we have, it all starts with our bodies. Our bodies can be mysterious, as we all have certain instincts and feelings in our bodies that are hard to ignore. A certain, Spidey-sense, if you will, that we all notice at times. Much c…
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May 25, 2021
Understanding the Enneagram: Thinking Center, Security and Anxiety (3/4)
In this episode, Jeremiah and E discuss the Thinking Triad or Enneagram types 5, 6, and 7. Enneagram type 5 is the Thinker, type 6 the Loyalist, and type 7 the Enthusiast. The main themes of this triad are anxiety and security, always looking for inner guidance and support. The Head Center is future focused, subconsciously wondering, "What is going to happen to me?, How can I prepare?, Will I be okay?"
Remember awareness leads to transformation. As you learn more about yourself, your type, and your center, the key is to let that self awareness lead to letting go, not further striving.
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May 14, 2021
Understanding the Enneagram: Feeling Center, Self Image and Shame (2/4)
This week Jeremiah and E focus on Enneagram types 2, 3, and 4, also known as the feelings or heart center.
Awareness leads to transformation: Remember that as you learn more about yourself, your type, and your center, the key is to let that self awareness lead to letting go, not further striving. Let the learning lead to freedom from self, releasing yourself from the ego’s fixation that first protected and served you, but which now can be released.
Look for helpful supplementary content related to this episode at https://goodtotalks.com
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May 7, 2021
Understanding the Enneagram: Essence and Ego (1/4)
As an introduction to the enneagram, Jeremiah and E discuss its history and general philosophy. They briefly cover each of the nine personality types and categorize them into triads, while encouraging the listener to visit https://goodtotalks.com for a visual aid to help clarify some of the more detailed aspects of the enneagram's structure. This is part one of four. In later episodes, each of the three triads will be explored in more detail.
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May 3, 2021
Self Care in Action (3/4)
Self care is not selfishness. We must care for ourselves to have anything to then offer to others. Giving from emptiness leads to burnout (self) and resentment (others). Giving from fullness leads to harmony (self) and empathy (others). Filling our tanks enables us to fill the tanks of others. We must put our own oxygen masks on first before helping our companions.
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May 3, 2021
Self Care and Thought (4/4)
Past: Depression vs Thankful | Present: Disconnected vs Grateful | Future: Anxious vs Hopeful ------ There are two mindsets that matter: active and passive. With a passive mind, things happen to you and you're not responsible for them. An active mind, on the other hand, means ownership. The difference between a passive and active mind is easy to spot. For example, if someone arrives late because of traffic, do they blame the traffic or take ownership and say they failed to account for traffic.
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May 3, 2021
Self Care and Identity (2/4)
When you are free of outside sources defining you, you are free. You are free to be absolutely present in this moment without rejecting anything about it, remembering what has always been there. Health is in some ways a measure of our capacity to be present. The healthier we are, the more we are able to be here, grounded in our bodies, with our hearts open and our minds quiet and focused. In this state, we are more likely to be functioning more effectively in the world, more in touch with our feelings, and happier.
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May 1, 2021
Self Care in a Stressful Season (1/4)
2020 was a difficult year making self care more important than ever. This week Jeremiah and E discuss how self care helps connect us to meaningfulness, our own desires, and our communities. Because self care is a uniquely personal experience it helps us dive deeper into ourselves and practice valuing our self.
Incorporating the stoic concept of Sympatheia, we find that as we love and give to ourselves, we are better equipped to love and give to others.
As Marcus Aurelius reminds us, “meditate often on the interconnectedness and mutual interdependence of all things in the universe.”
We are made for each other.
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