Real Mindful

What can an ancient Greek play show modern audiences about the circumstances nurses have found themselves in over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic? That's a question Theater of War Productions and Dr. Cynda Rushton, professor of nursing and bioethics at Johns Hopkins University, hope will be answered when The Nurse Antigone premieres to audiences around the world. A project by and for nurses, The Nurse Antigone presents dramatic readings of Sophocles' Antigone on Zoom—featuring Taylor Schilling, Margaret Atwood, a chorus of nurses, and you. Mindful's managing editor Stephanie Domet connected with the organizers, and we're pleased to bring you that conversation. Show notes:  Learn more about The Nurse Antigone: theaterofwar.com Can A Greek Tragedy Help Nurses Heal From the Stress of the Pandemic?

Here at Mindful we talk a lot about the wisdom of self-compassion and the importance of encountering our experience just as it is. And so, we've realized we need to take some of our own medicine. We need to rest for a moment. We're going to model self-care, we're going to model self-compassion, and we're going to put this podcast on pause for now.  We'll be back before long with another episode of Real Mindful.

In this episode of Real Mindful, we pick up this remarkable conversation between old friends as Frank Ostaseski talks about the nature of our minds and how a useful comparison can be the ocean and its waves. After suffering from five strokes over two years, Frank shares how his mindfulness practice provided him with comfort during this difficult time and shares how letting go of his need to return to normal helped him focus on discovery rather than recovery. Show Notes:   Listen to the first part of this conversation here: ​​Lean In to Love with Frank Ostaseski - Mindful    Find more from Frank Ostaseski here: The Five Invitations: Discovering What Death Can Teach Us About Living Fully Zen Hospice Project A 12-Minute Meditation to Welcome Everything “Lean In to Love” from the February 2022 issue of Mindful magazine And more from Mindful here: February issue of Mindful magazine: Welcome Everything The 12 Minute Meditation practice podcast And don't forget to let us know what you thought by emailing yourwords@mindful.org.

Frank Ostaseski is a well-known and much-loved teacher of meditation, mindfulness, and compassionate service. In the past two years, he's suffered five strokes that affected his brain's capacity and as many aspects of daily life became more difficult, Frank found strength and refuge in love, compassion, and curiosity. He also found his practice still very much alive through the whole experience—and his ability to communicate the nuance of what we discover when we welcome everything remains intact. In this remarkable conversation between old friends, Frank shares some of what he learned and leaned on with our founding editor Barry Boyce. We'll bring you this conversation in two parts over the next two episodes of Real Mindful. Show Notes Find more from Frank Ostaseski here: The Five Invitations: Discovering What Death Can Teach Us About Living Fully Zen Hospice Project A 12-Minute Meditation to Welcome Everything “Lean Into Love” from the February 2022 issue of Mindful magazine And more from Mindful here: February issue of Mindful magazine: Welcome Everything More Real Mindful podcast episodes The 12 Minute Meditation practice podcast And don't forget to let us know what you thought by emailing yourwords@mindful.org.

In this unique episode of Real Mindful, we're looking back at some of the memorable moments at Mindful in 2021. Mindful managing editor Stephanie Domet sits down with members of the editorial and design team to discuss what stood out to them in the world of mindfulness over the past year. You'll also hear all about how the folks at Mindful like to rest, a few things they're grateful for, and the importance of taking the time to notice the small moments of beauty all around us.  Show notes: Powerful women of mindfulness, 2021: 10 Powerful Women of the Mindfulness Movement: 2021 Powerful women of mindfulness, 2020: 12 Powerful Women of the Mindfulness Movement: 2020 Powerful women of mindfulness, 2019: 12 Powerful Women of the Mindfulness Movement Read The Importance of Noticing Small Moments of Beauty: The Importance of Noticing Small Moments of Beauty Read How I Stopped Terrorizing Myself: How I Stopped Terrorizing Myself Read Healing in the Deep Ocean of Grief: Healing in the Deep Ocean of Grief Read Gentle Men: The Healing Power of Vulnerability: Gentle Men: The Healing Power of Vulnerability Ruth King Real Mindful Episode: Ruth King on Planting Seeds for the Future - Mindful  Enjoy our Mindful Gratitude Journal with a discount applied at checkout here: www.mindful.org/journal  Edward M. Adams and Ed Frauenheim Real Mindful Episode: Liberating Masculinity With Edward M. Adams and Ed Frauenheim Read the lastest Top of Mind section: How Naming Can Empower Patients, and Other Mindful News Rashid Hughes R.E.S.T practice: R.E.S.T.—A Guided Practice for the Tired and Weary

In this episode of Real Mindful, neuroscientist and author of the new book Peak Mind: Find Your Focus, Own Your Attention, Invest 12 Minutes a Day, Amishi Jha and Mindful managing editor Stephanie Domet discuss the brain science of attention, how mindfulness meditation helps hone focus, and why our brains are so distractible in the first place. Show Notes: Find more from Amishi Jha here: Peak Mind excerpt: “Find Your Focus: Own Your Attention in 12 Minutes a Day” Find Your Focus: A Conversation with Amishi Jha More from Amishi on mindful.org Find Your Focus course AmishiJha.com And more from Mindful here: December issue of Mindful magazine: The Science of Mindfulness The 12 Minute Meditation practice podcast And don't forget to let us know what you thought by emailing yourwords@mindful.org.

This week, we have Mindful's very own senior editor, Amber Tucker and junior designer, Paige Sawler here to discuss a very special project: The Mindful Gratitude Journal. In this conversation with Mindful managing editor Stephanie Domet, you'll hear all about the joy, creativity, challenges and endless Zoom meetings that went into creating this—as we like to call it–work of art. We hope the Gratitude Journal will inspire you to not simply read, but take the practice of gratitude into every area of your life.  Shownotes: Enjoy our Mindful Gratitude Journal with a discount applied at checkout here: www.mindful.org/journal  Experience two weeks of Gratitude with our Mindful gratitude calendar here: The Mindful Gratitude Calendar  Find more artwork by Geraldine here: Geraldine Sy Illustration  And more from Mindful here: December issue of Mindful magazine: The Science of Mindfulness More Real Mindful podcast episodes The 12 Minute Meditation practice podcast And don't forget to let us know what you thought by emailing yourwords@mindful.org.

This week, Mindful managing editor Stephanie Domet is joined by founding editor Barry Boyce for a personal conversation about stories and storytelling—a topic that has always been a pillar in both of their careers. In fact, in every issue of Mindful magazine, Barry writes the back-page column “Point of View,” and in the December issue he writes about stories and storytelling. In this conversation, Barry expands on that article to explore the role stories play, the way they sometimes expire, and what's at stake when we don't look past our stories to tune in with what's actually happening in our firsthand experience. Show Notes: Alisongopnik.com Adamgopnik.com Find more of Barry Boyce here: “What is Possible When We Put Down Our Screens” by Barry Boyce More from Barry Boyce on Mindful.org The Mindfulness Revolution: Leading Psychologists, Scientists, Artists, and Meditation Teachers on the Power of Mindfulness in Daily Life And more from Mindful here: December issue of Mindful magazine: The Science of Mindfulness More Real Mindful podcast episodes The 12 Minute Meditation practice podcast And don't forget to let us know what you thought by emailing yourwords@mindful.org.

Rhonda V. Magee is a professor of law at the University of San Francisco. She is also a highly practiced facilitator of trauma-sensitive, restorative Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) interventions for lawyers and law students. Rhonda Magee sat down with Mindful's managing editor, Stephanie Domet to talk about why her work in social justice is important to her, how she navigates the difficult feelings that arise, what it looks like when she loses her cool—and why she's not interested in burning it all down and starting again, because even in intergenerationally dark times, she says, there's still the ability to love. And love can carry us through.

Before the pandemic, Mindful and mindful.org founding editor Barry Boyce visited the National Museum of the American Indian. In this rich conversation, he shares what he learned about awe, our relationship with nature, and each other while he was there. Plus, Barry offers a working definition of what is and is not “woo-woo.” Show Notes: National Museum of the American Indian Douglas Cardinal Architect Find more from Barry Boyce here: “In Awe of All Our Relations” “Why Meditation is a Practice of Liberation” The Mindfulness Revolution: Leading Psychologists, Scientists, Artists, and Meditation Teachers on the Power of Mindfulness in Daily Life And find more from Mindful on our practice podcast, 12 Minute Meditation. Let us know what you thought by emailing yourwords@mindful.org.

In this week's episode, JG Larochette, founder of the Mindful Life Project, sits down with Mindful managing editor, Stephanie Domet and shares his transformative encounter with mindfulness. Larochette shares his experience with bringing mindfulness into the classroom and the healing effect it had, not only on his students, but on his greater community. He reminds us that mindfulness is an innate skill we all possess and shares some tips on how to unlock this powerful ability.    Discover more about the Mindful Living Project here:  Mindful Life Project Join us in 30 days of meditation here: Sign up for the Mindful30 Meditation Challenge And find more from Mindful on our practice podcast, 12 Minute Meditation. Let us know what you thought by emailing yourwords@mindful.org.

In this week's episode we learn from experts about empowering men through a courageously expansive and compassionate vision of what it means to be a man. Mindful senior editor Amber Tucker speaks with Edward M. Adams and Ed Frauenheim, authors of Reinventing Masculinity: The Liberating Power of Compassion and Connection. Adams and Frauenheim share why they choose to use the terminology “confined” masculinity, instead of “toxic” masculinity, and how mindfulness helps to cultivate self-awareness, courage, vulnerability that can help men live more full, connected lives.  Plus, managing editor Stephanie Domet chats with senior editor Kylee Ross about the fifth annual Mindful30 Meditation Challenge, an offering from Mindful and eight world-renowned mindfulness teachers that you won't want to miss. 

“Gentle accountability,” Mindful founding editor Barry Boyce says, ​​“is the cornerstone of the deepest kind of friendship, where we rely on each other to let us know when we're full of ourselves.” In this episode of Real Mindful, Barry Boyce sits down with managing editor Stephanie Domet to talk about overcoming our differences, how mindful awareness can help us navigate the habits and patterns that arise in our in-groups, the refreshing value of encountering other perspectives, the benefits of mindful teasing and the beauty of encouragement.

For mindfulness teacher, author, and clinical psychologist Ruth King, holding onto hate is not an option. Instead, she returns to the knowledge that we are inter-connected, and that we belong to each other—even when it's hard. “The world needs our wise hearts right now,” she says, and mindfulness can give us the inner stability to respond, rather than react, when change feels urgent. In the first ever episode of Real Mindful, Ruth joins managing editor Stephanie Domet in conversation about finding comfort in impermanence, and the healing power of compassion. 

Imagine a retreat where you don't talk, partake in some labor, and your dad expects you to come out of the whole experience as an altered and evolved version of yourself. The character Fleabag, in the half an hour dramedy Fleabag, experiences just that.  Barry and Stephanie consider this one-and-done approach to mindfulness and engage with the telling hilarity found in the episode.  They both agree there's a lot of creepy and crappy teachings of mindfulness, Fleabag's retreat and some real-life retreats are some of them.  After they dive into the show's revealing satire, Barry and Stephanie reflect on the uncertainty of the pandemic we're all living in and our interconnectedness along with a few references to violinists and expressions of our new universal love language: wash your hands.  Show notes: Fleabag Season, 1 Episode 4 Violinist Fritz Kreisler Not to be confused with Fritz Crisler, American football coach Violinist Itzhak Perlman is not a cellist

Good news: It's okay to be a mindful vulgarian. What's important is that you're aware of the context, the words you use and how you use them. It's all about mindful communication.  Special guest Pat Rockman joins Barry Boyce and Stephanie Domet. Stephanie guides the conversation by gleaning Barry and Pat's insights into mouthing off mindfully. And, she finds out if they ever write someone off as a jerk. Show notes: This episode contains strong language. Patricia Rockman, MD, CCFP, FCFP is a family physician with a focused practice in mental health. 

Have you ever had those moments of inescapable boredom? It persists like an itch you can't scratch. Often in those moments, we desperately try to find something to satisfy or entertain ourselves. But maybe we should stop doing that.  Barry and Stephanie discuss their own experiences with boredom. For a while, Barry had the itch come up in his meditation practice. Stephanie recalls moments of boredom in childhood and times she grappled with her attention span.  Together they provide insight into why boredom can come up in meditation, how to move through it and the perception you can find beneath. And that perception is a gift for you to use. 

You don't want to miss this layered conversation that addresses racism, privilege and fragility.  Experts Rhonda Magee, Ram Mahalingam and Mirabai Bush talk to Barry about contemplative practice and equity issues. The four of them draw on their experiences and mindfulness practices to provide a rich dialogue on navigating racial justice.  Show notes: Rhonda V. Magee is a professor of law at the University of San Francisco. Also trained in sociology and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), she is a highly practiced facilitator of trauma-sensitive, restorative MBSR interventions for lawyers and law students, and for minimizing the effects of social-identity-based bias. Ram Mahalingam is a cultural psychologist, award-winning researcher, teacher, mentor, artist, and filmmaker.  His current research concerns nurturing a caring and compassionate workplace that treats its workers with dignity. Mirabai Bush is a senior fellow at the Center for Contemplative Mind in Society. She has led mindfulness training for lawyers, judges, educators, environmental leaders, activists, students, and the army, and was a key developer of Search Inside Yourself at Google.

Anger, passion and the other emotions that circle through you are welcome in the space of mindfulness.  Barry Boyce and Stephanie Domet talk about the push and pull of emotions versus rationality. They discuss how people can have the impression we need to remain in a neutral, calm state. Barry says that's not the answer nor is it the truth of who we are as humans. He recalls moments where he's dealt with anger and what he's learned from it all.  Barry leads Stephanie through a practice to sit with your emotions. Together they reflect on the role of emotions in our lives and in our mindfulness practices.  Show notes: Meditation by Barry Boyce.

Barry and Stephanie talk about the big-p: politics of governments. And the small-p: politics of everyday life. We move in and out of the zones, sometimes unaware of the politics and our own bias that's operating within the spaces. How does politics fit into mindfulness? How do they fit into Mindful magazine?  Barry and Stephanie break down these ideas and show the ways mindfulness can help us to utilize compassion and awareness to address bias, privilege, racism, and other political issues, both big and small.  They also begin their discussion of mouthing off mindfully because let's face it, it's not realistic to remain neutral in all of life's arenas.  Show notes: This episode contains strong language.

As we move through our day, how many things are we looking at but not truly seeing? Where are we injecting ideas of what something should be and missing the truth in front of us?  Barry Boyce tells Stephanie Domet about an epic battle he had with a jigsaw puzzle that revealed how the perceptions we hold can lead us into having images of how somebody or something should be instead of seeing people and situations for what they are.  Together they discuss how mindfulness can slow us down and allow us to gain awareness of our thinking patterns and the biases we hold. 

Rudeness is everywhere, even in the circles of mindfulness. But what is it that we're picking up on when we experience rudeness?  Barry Boyce tells Stephanie Domet how he noticed impoliteness at several conferences and mindfulness retreats. What he discovered is the contrast between being aware of your thoughts and being aware of the people around you.  Together they navigate how to let go of control, listen with your body, and step outside of focusing on yourself to make room for others and let go of rudeness in the process.

Rhonda Magee joins Barry to explore how mindfulness is more than a personal improvement project. Rhonda draws on her experiences and teachings to discuss how mindfulness can aid in conversations about race, but also how mindfulness practices can evolve to allow for more inclusion and discussion.  The key is that change doesn't happen instantly; it is long and persistent work that requires patience and compassion, both of which are found in mindfulness.  Show notes: Rhonda V. Magee is a professor of law at the University of San Francisco. Also trained in sociology and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), she is a highly practiced facilitator of trauma-sensitive, restorative MBSR interventions for lawyers and law students, and for minimizing the effects of social-identity-based bias.

There's lots of talk about the link between mindfulness and mental health. But what is the role of mindfulness for both people with and without a diagnosed condition?  Barry Boyce asks Patricia Rockman how mindfulness is used in treatment plans and debunks the ‘cure-all' perception. They discuss the Centre of Mindfulness Studies in Toronto and what their role is for clinicians and the general public.  Show notes: Patricia Rockman, MD, CCFP, FCFP is a family physician with a focused practice in mental health. She is the Senior Director of Education and Clinical Services at the Centre for Mindfulness Studies, Toronto.

Compassion and empathy fatigue are real things that can affect us in a myriad of ways. Barry Boyce talks to Frank Ostaseski, who has seen a lot of death and pain in his work of helping people who are dying. Frank shares how he came to a place where he could help others in difficult situations without taking on their pain as his own—a skill that became essential for his well-being.  Together they navigate dealing with death, fear, and grief with compassion and openness.  Show notes: Frank Ostaseski is a meditation teacher who cofounded the Zen Hospice Project. In 2004, he went on to create the Metta Institute to provide innovative educational programs and professional training to foster compassionate, mindfulness-based care.

Consider the relationship between trauma and vulnerability. Does anything come up for you?  Barry and Mindful's editor-in-chief Heather Hurlock sit down to talk about what trauma means. Barry takes us through the physical and physiological response of trauma and how mindfulness can be used to heal.  He explains how vulnerability opens us up to ourselves and others. It's in this openness and connection that the seeds of healing and coping can be found. Show notes: This episode contains subject matter related to suicide and suicide prevention. 

Does silence make you uncomfortable, or is it something you relish in?  Barry Boyce and Mindful's editor-in-chief Heather Hurlock talk about space, and the silence it brings. In the silence, we can have a chance to notice our thoughts and take a break from responding and taking in new input. Barry says space means allowing for uncertainty, and maybe that's exactly what we need.  

When you think about happiness, what kind of dialogue runs through your mind? Do you become anxious or begin to question aspects of your life?  Barry Boyce and Mindful's editor-in-chief Heather Hurlock discuss the trap of the word happiness. Barry talks about how mindfulness fits into the happiness equation and how we can shift to feelings of well-being. Together they discuss how to cultivate well-being through meditation and gratitude. 

Barry Boyce and Mindful's editor-in-chief Heather Hurlock dig into the debate about teaching mindfulness in public schools.  Some parents are concerned about teaching a worldview or mindfulness being a gateway into a religion. Barry talks about mindfulness as a skill that has to do with your breath, body, and kindness.