Striving Episode 7 - Technolgy, Connections and Control

This week Shawn talks about the illusion of control technology can give you.

Thanks Michael Hermes for doing production on this week's show!

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Striving Episode 6 - Suffering and Change

This week Shawn talks about how much you need to suffer before you're ready to change. Spoiler: Probably more than you actually need to.

Quick note: Show won't show up on iTunes just yet. You can stream it here or direct download for now!

Thanks Michael Hermes for doing production on this week's show!

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Striving Episode 5 - The Ebb and Flow of Practice

This week Shawn is joined by his good friend Julian Murdoch. They talk about falling in and out of spiritual practice during their day to day lives.

Thanks Michael Hermes for doing production on this week's show!

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Meditation Report Card

It's been just a little over a week since I threw down the gauntlet in front of my procrastinating self. To keep it all on front street, I managed five out of the seven days in the meditation challenge. I mostly sat down in the evening and did about 20 to 30 minutes. It was a great practice and it made a good difference in putting the work day firmly behind me instead of layering a blanket of digital stimulation over the stress. I just let it work through my mind and clear out.

The days I missed were regretful, but there's not much sense in beating myself up about it. One of the days I missed was Saturday. The reason I mention it is that weekends tend to be a lower stress time and the raw need to relax is less intense. That's actually the best time to meditate because you're doing so in a relaxed state already. Rather than being reactive to a busy day, you can do some preventative maintenance and help make the following work week that much smoother.

Meditation can get you out of a jam; but it works even better when it's a consistent hum regardless of how good or bad you're feeling.

Striving Episode 4 - Looking For Group

This week is about finding a group to share silence with. And how it's kind of freaky.

Thanks Michael Hermes for doing production on this week's show!

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Striving Supplemental - How to Meditate

As promised, here is a quick guide to the basics of meditation. Next week I'll be doing a guided 15 minute meditation that will talk you through the process in more depth. In the mean time, I'm happy to answer any questions as best I can.

Thanks Michael Hermes for cleaning up the audio so quickly!

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The Meditate Every Day Project

Setting goals is something I've always been leery of doing. Not that goals are bad -- but getting in the habit of setting and forgetting them is. That's why I like to keep my goals short term and I turn to having intentions for longer term aspirations. I'll probably delve into that on a future show.

For now I've decided to make the dangerous decision to meditate every day this week. Considering my current pattern has been once or twice a week at best, it's going to take a bit of discipline to make it happen. But it's important, so I'm gonna do it.

Who's with me?

*Update* Wow. Lots of replies and questions! I'm going to record a quick audio segment guiding you through the basics of meditation tonight. It will be focused on the simple technique to get you started.