167: The Reality Of Living With Mental Illness

167: The Reality Of Living With Mental Illness

Life with mental illness is full of ups and downs. The acceptance of this reality is vital for healing and growth. I am increasingly wary of self-help gurus and life coaches who only project positivity - this is not how reality works. And denying it (or not showing it) can ostracise people into the belief that they are alone in their suffering. This is simply not true.

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166: Your Mindfulness Toolbox For Daily Living

166: Your Mindfulness Toolbox For Daily Living

Introducing my 10 meditation course on insight timer ‘Your Mindfulness Toolbox For Daily Living’.

In this course you will learn a collection of traditional and novel practices, techniques, concepts and strategies to attain mindfulness, and take the benefits of clarity, calm and control off the meditation mat and into every day life.

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165: The Questions I Ask Myself To Stay Mentally Healthy

165: The Questions I Ask Myself To Stay Mentally Healthy

In order to stay functional, I find it necessary to observe the trends. Am I acting, feeling and performing as normal? If not, why not?

By monitoring my warning signs, I can best take preventative action to avoid a catastrophic downturn in my mental health.

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164: What Is It Like To Be You?

164: What Is It Like To Be You?

Is it possible to see the world objectively, to understand events as another does, to truly empathise, and to step outside of ourselves?

We are blinded by our bias; our upbringings, religions, parents, education, gender, age and ethnicity.

These things will dictate what we believe, and how we interoperate new information, and thus how we perceive and act upon the world.

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163: Embracing Darkness To Better See The Light

163: Embracing Darkness To Better See The Light

Everybody’s life has unique challenges, but no matter where we find ourselves, there are still positives to embrace, along with the realisation that it could be worse.

In this episode I discuss how contemplating darkness has helped me to better see the light, and how it could help you as well.

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162: Putting My Money Where My Mouth Is

162: Putting My Money Where My Mouth Is

Today I am going to share the financial side of my online work, breaking down the profit’s made against hours spent working.

I hope to show you the growing success, as well as highlight how all of what I am doing here is clearly a passion project.

My ongoing hope is to create the resources (books, blogs, podcasts, teachings) that I wish had have existed when I needed it most, and to destigmatise mental illness, trauma and the recovery process.

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160: The Diagnosis Dilemma - Is it BPD, ASD or C-PTSD?

160: The Diagnosis Dilemma - Is it BPD, ASD or C-PTSD?

I have long since struggled to find the right diagnosis, as well as with the concept of a diagnosis it self.

Not only can a diagnosis be prescriptive and limiting, it can also be given incorrectly. There is a massive crossover between the symptomologies, and some specialists have a tendency to over diagnose to the affirmative of their area…

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159: Using Brutal Honesty To Align Your Actions With Your Purpose

159: Using Brutal Honesty To Align Your Actions With Your Purpose

Unless you are completely honest with yourself, your actions will be out of line with your true purpose. By ‘true purpose’ I am not referring to anything religious or spiritual. I am referring to what you as an individual, given your unique set of genetics and environmental influences, is best set up to do.

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158: When Your Mental Health Takes A Turn For The Worse

158: When Your Mental Health Takes A Turn For The Worse

Over the last couple of weeks, my mental state has taken a turn for the worse.

In this episode I break down what has happened & why, as well as discuss what I am doing to mend.

We are in unprecedented times, so it makes sense that you may be also struggling.

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157: What Is Mindfulness Meditation - Introduction, FAQ & Beginning Your Practice

157: What Is Mindfulness Meditation - Introduction, FAQ & Beginning Your Practice

Mindfulness Meditation is the act of purposefully paying non-judgmental attention to the present moment.

To begin meditation, focus on the sensations of your breath. When you notice that you are distracted, gently return your focus back to the breath. Sounds simple enough, however, the beginning meditator quickly runs up against a plethora of questions, concerns and insights.

This talk aims to inform and empower all who wish to start a successful mindful meditation practice.

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156: Putin's Eternal Rein, Corona & Why You Should (not...?) Visit Russia (Introducing The Motherland Podcast)

156: Putin's Eternal Rein, Corona & Why You Should (not...?) Visit Russia (Introducing The Motherland Podcast)

Introducing the Motherland Podcast - A place to learn conversational Russian, dive into the culture and hear some ridiculous stories about our experiences visiting The Motherland.

In this episode we discus Putin’s play for an eternal rein, and thought it was time to break down the reasons why (not…?) to visit Russia.

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154: Your Actions Are A Prayer

 
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Luck comes to those who act.

The Gods honour those who act. If we want to see positive improvements in our minds, bodies or spirits, hope isn't enough; we need to act. Good habits, performed daily, lead to improvement.

It is time to take the actions necessary to turn you into the person you are meant to be.

Links Mentioned:
Insight Timer - Profile
Your Actions Are A Prayer - Poem

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Zachary Phillips

Zachary Phillips is a poet, author, mental health advocate, and mindset coach. In these roles he has helped thousands of people move from a place of surviving to passionately thriving.

He is the author of 17 books, teaches on Skillshare, Insight Timer, and Udemy, hosts the Reality Check podcast, and is the creator of the Ask A Poet YouTube channel.

He is a qualified teacher, personal trainer, life long martial artist & coach, disability support worker, Reiki master, and is currently studying a Master of Counselling.

153: Empires Fall By The Blood Of Friends

153: Empires Fall By The Blood Of Friends

We are living in tumultuous times.

The impacts of Covid aside, we are facing social disruptions and protests.

The Black Lives Matters movement, Trump and issues like wealth disparity have resulted in an increasing number of people to call for a revolution; to take action to tear it all down.

This is my response to those calls.

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152: The (Un) Happy Family - Breaking The Cycle Of Trauma & Abuse

152: The (Un) Happy Family - Breaking The Cycle Of Trauma & Abuse

Trauma, neglect and abuse leave lasting scars upon individuals and families. It is generational - what happens to the child is often repeated when they become the adult.

The cycle can be broken of course, but with out therapy and a lot of work it likely wont.

*Extreme trigger warning on this episode

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151: Strategic Caffeination, Abstinence & Other Self Improvement Hacks

151:  Strategic Caffeination, Abstinence & Other Self Improvement Hacks

Coffee is a drug, but unlike prescription medication it’s not given any respect. This despite the fact that we consume it to alter our mental states.

I practice ‘strategic caffeination’ - specifically choosing when to use it, and abstaining at other times - just as I would with all drugs.

Coffee is a useful tool, but over use reduces its effectiveness and causes anxiety.

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150: Atelophobia - The Fear Of Imperfection

150: Atelophobia - The Fear Of Imperfection

I need to learn to be okay with failure. To accept my own imperfections and to let things go.

Doing so will enable me to take risks and try new things. There is a risk that it won’t turn out well, but to not take the chance is far worse.

Whats the alternative? To live out my life, never leaving the comfortable rut?

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