Podcast Summary
Exploring sabbaticals and life changes with Ben Federer and Dan Harris: Ben Federer shares his experience of taking a sabbatical and emphasizes the importance of reevaluating limiting beliefs, while Dan Harris suggests focusing on the breath for meditation practice
Taking a sabbatical or making significant life changes, even if it seems daunting or unrealistic, can be achievable. Ben Federer, a former CEO of a large video game company, shares his story of leaving his job to spend a year in Bali with his family. He emphasizes the importance of reevaluating the stories we tell ourselves about why we can't make changes and offers practical ways to shift perspective without making drastic geographic moves. For those struggling with meditation, Dan Harris suggests focusing on the breath and using guided meditation apps, emphasizing that having strong focus on the breath is a valuable skill. The upcoming episode will feature meditation teacher Jeff Warren answering listener questions.
Everyone's meditation journey is unique: Be open and curious, shift practices as needed, focus on comfort, and seek guidance when necessary
While meditation practices like focusing on the breath are commonly recommended, it's important to remember that everyone's meditation journey is unique. It's normal for preferences and practices to shift over time. When dealing with physical discomfort, such as a cold, it may be helpful to focus on different aspects of the breath or try alternative practices. Involuntary movements during meditation are also common and generally not a cause for concern. Ultimately, the most important thing is to be open and curious, and seek guidance from qualified teachers when needed.
CEO's Journey to Mindfulness through Meditation: Even high-achieving executives can find peace and happiness through meditation, as demonstrated by Ben Federer's personal experience and exploration in his book 'Take Off Your Shoes'.
Meditation can be practiced by anyone, even high-achieving executives with demanding careers. Ben Federer, a former CEO of Take Two Interactive and current president of International Partnerships for Tencent, was inspired by the story of a monk named Young Yermi Rimpoche, who found peace and happiness through mindful meditation despite growing up with severe anxiety in a dangerous environment. Ben himself was driven by his successful career but realized he was disconnected from his family. He went on a retreat to Bali with his wife and children and wrote about his experiences in his book, "Take Off Your Shoes." The interview explores how Ben's interest in meditation began and how it has impacted his life, raising questions about the importance of mindfulness in our fast-paced world.
Neglecting personal relationships for career success: Balancing professional and personal life is crucial for a fulfilling existence. Taking breaks and embracing new experiences can lead to meaningful moments.
Ambition and career success can come at a cost to personal relationships. The speaker shares his experience of being so focused on his job that he neglected his family, leading him to realize the importance of taking a break and spending time with them. Despite the challenges, he made the decision to take an extended sabbatical with his family to Bali, recognizing that sometimes the most meaningful experiences require stepping out of one's comfort zone and embracing new cultures. It's essential to strike a balance between professional and personal life to avoid regrets and maintain a fulfilling existence.
Discovering new perspectives through travel: Travel can broaden horizons and inspire personal growth, regardless of financial resources.
Travel and new experiences, regardless of financial means, can lead to valuable personal growth and a shift in priorities. The speaker's family's time in Bali at the Green School opened their eyes to a more global perspective and the importance of environmental and citizen education. While acknowledging the privilege of taking a sabbatical, the speaker encourages listeners to challenge their excuses and consider making similar experiences a priority, no matter their circumstances. The speaker's encounter with people of varying means in Bali further emphasizes that such experiences are not limited to the wealthy.
Make your life a constant sabbatical: Find personal growth through self-care and shedding old habits, even in current circumstances
It's possible to make your life a sabbatical, a time of rest and reflection, even if you can't physically leave your current circumstances. This idea was explored in the discussion about mindful meditation and organizing one's life to create space for self-care and personal growth. The concept was inspired by a friend who saw his life as a constant sabbatical and challenged the idea that a break requires physically leaving one's situation. The idea of finding your own "holy ground" and shedding old habits to emerge into something new was also emphasized as a way to achieve personal growth without having to escape. This approach can help individuals manage stress and anxiety, organize their lives, and find greater meaning and fulfillment in their daily experiences.
Finding inner peace and self-love through perspective shift: Shifting perspective through practices like mindfulness, gratitude, and compassion can lead to transformative experiences, even without physical relocation. Self-awareness and witnessing thoughts are crucial.
Finding your "holy ground" or shifting perspective on life can lead to a transformative experience, even if it doesn't require a physical relocation. This can be achieved through practices like mindfulness meditation, gratitude, and compassion. The speaker's sabbatical in Bali served as an example of this, where he found stillness and connected with the ground, leading him to realize the love and center within himself. It's important to note that this shift requires self-awareness and witnessing one's thoughts, much like a meditator strives for. Additionally, the speaker mentioned that he filled his days in Bali with activities that allowed him to learn to see and think differently, such as reading and drawing.
Exploring creativity through art: Engaging in artistic activities can quiet the mind, enhance creativity, and bring joy and transformation
Engaging in creative activities, such as drawing or painting, can help quiet down the analytical left side of the brain, allowing the more imaginative right side to come to the forefront. This was a surprising discovery for the speaker, who had no prior artistic skills, but through a series of exercises and dedication, was able to teach herself to be an artist. This process brought her great joy and even transformed her life in unexpected ways. The speaker's experience is reminiscent of the ideas presented in Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi's book "Flow," which describes the mental state of being fully immersed in an activity and the resulting shutting down of mental distractions. The speaker's journey also resonates with former President George W. Bush's assertion that art has had a profound impact on his life.
Exploring inner peace through meditation and creativity: Immersing in practices like meditation, yoga, and creative pursuits can lead to profound experiences of self-awareness and connection to the universe, helping individuals navigate emotional vulnerabilities and respond to challenges with greater resilience.
Immersing oneself in practices like meditation, yoga, and creative pursuits can lead to profound experiences of connection to the universe and increased self-awareness. These experiences can be transformative, allowing individuals to navigate emotional vulnerabilities and respond to challenges with greater resilience. The speaker shares how these practices helped him discover a sense of peace and presence, even amidst the chaos of everyday life. Though these experiences can be hard to put into words, they have a lasting impact on how one perceives and engages with the world. The speaker also emphasizes that these practices are not a promise of bliss, but rather a means of cultivating a deeper connection to oneself and the world around us.
Living a Balanced Life: Meditation, Yoga, and Personal Growth: Incorporating practices like meditation, yoga, and personal growth can lead to increased happiness and success, not detract from it. Ben's experience with Tencent shows how these tools add value to professional and personal life.
Living a balanced life with practices like meditation, yoga, and personal growth can lead to increased happiness and success, rather than detracting from it. The speaker, Ben, shares his experience of incorporating these practices into his busy career with Tencent, and how they have enhanced his ability to respond to the world in a measured way. He acknowledges that some may fear these practices will make them less effective, but he believes they are tools that add value to his professional and personal life. Ben also emphasizes that getting older and experiences like marriage are also contributing factors to his improved well-being. Ultimately, he encourages others to explore these practices and find what works best for them in their own journey towards living a more fulfilling life.
Cultivating Self-Compassion and Compassion Towards Others: Quieting the inner critic and offering kindness to oneself and others can lead to greater happiness and fulfillment.
Self-compassion and compassion towards others can lead to a more optimistic and cooperative outlook on life. The speaker, Ben Fetter, shares his personal journey towards becoming kinder to himself and others, and how this shift in perspective has brought him greater happiness and fulfillment. He emphasizes the importance of quieting the critical inner voice and offering wisdom and support to those struggling with anxiety and self-doubt. Fetter's new book, "Take Off Your Shoes," offers insights and practical tips for cultivating self-compassion and living a more mindful and compassionate life. You can find the book on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or his website, benfetterauthor.com, and connect with him on Twitter and Facebook using the handle @benfetterauthor.
The Swan: A Reality Show's Dark Side of Beauty: The Swan reality show reveals the extreme lengths and societal pressures to conform to an unrealistic beauty standard, with participants undergoing transformations and facing harsh criticism.
The reality TV show "The Swan" serves as a stark reminder of the extreme lengths people will go to in the name of beauty and societal acceptance. In this experiment, 40 kids were left to live in isolation, and women underwent physical transformations, only to be ranked in a beauty pageant. The show quickly turned into a viewing nightmare, with the participants being berated and operated on. This social experiment, inspired by CBS, highlights the dark side of societal pressures and the consequences of pursuing an unrealistic standard of beauty. The Big Flop podcast episode on this topic invites comedians to discuss who thought this was a good idea and how it reflects on our cultural values.
