Podcast Summary
Common's wellness journey: Rapper Common's wellness journey started at 19 with diet and spirituality, now includes therapy and meditation, and reflects a broader trend of vulnerability and self-care in hip hop.
Rapper Common, known for his music and acting, is also a wellness advocate. He has a new book, "And Then We Rise," which focuses on wellness. Common's interest in wellness started when he was 19 and began with diet and spirituality. He also deals with past struggles, such as alcoholism in his family. Today, Common practices therapy and meditation, and he's open about his vulnerabilities. He's not alone in the hip hop world, as more rappers are sharing their inner lives and emotional experiences. Common's evolution reflects a broader trend in hip hop towards vulnerability and self-care. For those interested in meditation, the 10% Happier app offers monthly check-ins and a personalized meditation plan, and for a limited time, there's a 40% discount on a subscription.
Wellness and Self-Love Journey: Personal experiences, travel, and encounters with diverse people and cultures can inspire a journey towards wellness and self-love, despite initial resistance and challenges.
Wellness, self-love, and care for oneself were not concepts that were emphasized in the speaker's upbringing. However, through personal experiences, travel, and encounters with different people and cultures, the speaker came to understand and prioritize these practices. The journey was not always smooth, as there was initial resistance to making changes to diet and engaging in self-love. But the speaker's desire to be a better person and artist propelled him forward, leading to improvements in various areas of his life. The speaker's goal now is to share these lessons with others, particularly those from similar backgrounds who may not have been exposed to these concepts. Progress, he notes, is not always a straight upward trajectory, but rather a bumpy journey.
Self-worth: Self-worth isn't always innate and can be challenged despite achievements. True self-worth comes from within and isn't dependent on external validation.
Self-love and self-esteem are not always innate qualities, even for those who have achieved great success in their fields. The speaker, a rapper, shares how he struggled with self-love in various aspects of his life despite excelling in hip-hop. He discovered his greatness as a rapper and felt confident on the mic but found it challenging to apply that confidence in other areas of his life. The speaker's self-worth was often challenged when his work wasn't received well or when he was around more successful people. He learned that true self-worth comes from within and is not dependent on external validation. Despite his accomplishments, he still faces challenges to his self-worth but has learned to honor his value and understand that rejection is a part of the journey. The speaker's mother's advice to send love and light to those who receive opportunities instead of him also highlights the importance of empathy and compassion during times of rejection.
Mudita practice: Practicing Mudita, or sending positivity and well-wishes to others, can lead to personal growth and inner peace despite natural inclination to compare and feel envy or jealousy. Trusting in the journey of life and believing difficult times serve a purpose can help find hidden jewels and build stronger character.
Focusing on sending positivity and well-wishes to others, rather than dwelling on envy and jealousy, can lead to personal growth and inner peace. This practice, known as Mudita in Buddhism, can be challenging due to our natural inclination to compare and feel pain from rejection. However, the more we practice, the easier it becomes to recover from setbacks and appreciate the value in our experiences, even if they don't result in the desired outcome. Ultimately, trusting in the journey of life and believing that difficult times serve a purpose can help us find the hidden jewels and build stronger character.
Self-discovery through challenges: Challenges can lead to self-discovery and growth, helping us become our best selves by developing qualities like self-love, consideration for others, awareness, and social responsibility. Personal experiences, like becoming a vegan, can also bring meaning and benefit our overall well-being.
Life's challenges, including personal hardships and setbacks, can serve as opportunities for self-discovery and growth towards becoming our best selves. Common uses the analogy of a hero in a story, emphasizing that the hero's journey involves overcoming obstacles and developing qualities like self-love, consideration for others, awareness, and social responsibility. He encourages finding meaning in difficult experiences and striving to live a fulfilling life. Additionally, Common discussed his personal journey towards becoming a vegan, which he found benefited his body and mind, and emphasized the importance of being aware of what we put into our bodies and making choices that align with our values.
Health pillars: Focusing on physical, emotional, and mental health through clean eating, staying hydrated, therapy, self-reflection, and self-care leads to happier, healthier lives.
Taking care of your physical, emotional, and mental health is essential for overall well-being. Eating clean, staying hydrated, and incorporating exercise are key components of physical health. Emotional health can be improved through therapy and self-reflection, while mental health benefits from addressing traumas and practicing self-care. The speaker's personal experience with the power of food in healing physical ailments and the transformative effects of therapy on emotional and mental health underscores the interconnectedness of these pillars. By focusing on these areas and making small, consistent improvements, individuals can lead happier, healthier lives.
Personal growth practices, mind impact: Personal growth and self-care practices like therapy and meditation are crucial for reaching full potential, as they positively impact both mental and physical well-being.
Personal growth and self-care, through methods like therapy and meditation, are essential for reaching one's full potential. The mind plays a crucial role in this process, as it impacts our physical well-being and overall fulfillment. Finding what works best for an individual, whether it's meditation or another practice, is key to making progress and growing as a person. The evolution of hip hop music reflects this maturation, as artists now openly discuss topics like therapy, meditation, and self-love, showcasing the growth and diversity within the genre.
Hip hop evolution: Hip hop's growth reflects artists' maturity and capacity for self-expression, with topics evolving from personal struggles to societal issues, and its reach offering a powerful platform for change
Hip hop music has evolved from expressing real experiences and emotions to discussing previously taboo topics, reflecting the growth and maturity of the artists and the culture. The capacity for greatness and self-expression in hip hop comes from acknowledging and overcoming personal struggles. The soul, as described, refers to spirituality and tapping into one's divine self, which is an essential part of personal growth and fulfilling one's purpose in life. The evolution of hip hop music, with its raw expression and ability to reach a wide audience, provides a powerful platform for artists to share their stories and inspire change.
Spirituality and Healing: Renowned rapper and actor Common emphasizes the importance of respecting each other's beliefs, serving the same God, and treating people with love. He also shares the significance of speaking about past trauma to heal and break the cycle.
Common, a renowned rapper and actor, believes that despite the various religious and spiritual paths people follow, they are all ultimately serving the same God. He emphasized the importance of respecting each other's beliefs and treating people with love. Common also shared his personal experience of dealing with past trauma and the importance of speaking about it to heal and break the cycle. The conversation touched on themes of healing, spirituality, and the power of sharing personal stories. Common's latest book is titled "And Then We Rise." The podcast also acknowledged the contributions of its team, including producers, recording engineers, and musicians. Listeners were encouraged to check out the show's website for more information and to sign up for Dan Harris' weekly newsletter.