Real Mindful

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.