Awakened Conscious Conversations
Healing the world one episode at a time by offering realistic solutions to the journey of life. Both self hosted ( By The Gentle Yoga Warrior) and guest episodes.
Many of our guests have overcome significant obstacles and transformed their lives.
Rich with deep talks and solo endeavours, often offering tips on living a more conscious life.
Many episodes include a bonus optional meditation!
Awakened Conscious Conversations
Embracing Change And Finding Serenity in a Fast World
Remember the days before mobile/cell phones, when our imaginations flourished and freedom felt unbounded? Join me, the Gentle Yoga Warrior, as we navigate through time reflecting on the transformative impact of technology on our lives. We’ll weigh the scales between innovation and tradition, questioning how we can hold on to the values that matter most—like sustainability and reduced plastic use—amidst the constant churn of progress.
Stepping into the realm of mindfulness and compassion, we explore how these virtues can heal a divided world.
To wrap it up, I guide you through a powerful meditation exercise involving the visualisation of a tree, helping you cultivate inner peace and a deeper connection with nature. This episode is your gateway to finding balance, wisdom, and harmony in a fast-paced world.
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A note for every episode: we do not necessary agree with all the views on our podcast and leave listeners to make their own mind up with what they do or don't agree with.
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Hello everybody, I'm your host, the Gentle York Warrior, and this is season 16, second last episode, and we are about to step into our chrysalis and do a transformation of how we bring this show to you. Dear listeners. I'm very eager and excited to see how that rolls and as I record this, I'm almost through this amazing book on meditation. For the special guests, I haven't got one, but two guests on the show, and I did say last week, it was this week, but it's it is actually next week. So if you tune in this time next Wednesday, you will have a fantastic solution. If you've tried meditation before and you failed, these two guests I've got on next week might be your thing to help you on that path.
Speaker 1:For today's show, I was thinking about change, and there's been a lot of changes, like there will be. Even if you're young and listen to this right, by the time you get older, the world will be a completely different place from when you were born, and it's like it's a balance between not getting stuck in your ways, because we could all get stuck in our ways, um, but I think that makes us makes us less joyful. Equally, it's also about keeping hold of what is dear to you example. I've used this sample a lot but I feel quite strong about it. I grew up in a time where, before mobile phones and it was great and also bad at the same time like if you were meeting someone, you had to be somewhere, if you're when I was a school kid, because, again, we were allowed to just like wander off and do our own thing um, yeah, it was quite magical in that sense. You, you could just go off and be with your friends all day and you'd come back for your dinner at night and then the rest of the time you would just be kind of free and having fun and, uh, there were more mobile phones when I kind of got, well, there were more mobile phones but most people didn't have them. But when I got into like my early 20s, most people had them but I I waited until like my late 20s because, um, I really couldn't see the point of them. I know that's a hard thing to kind of listen and imagine in today's world when we are so used to them. And I love aspects of the phone.
Speaker 1:Technology really helped me with my dyslexia, like I remember getting my first apple about 20 years ago and I had it used to play back and it still does. I know everyone does this, but everybody didn't do this before and it used to play back right, all the kind of things that if I'd written something I could play it back and I could hear where I had made mistakes. So it really, really helped me. So I think technology's got some amazing things. It allows me to share this with you today. So there is some fantastic things out there with technology, but I choose because I knew what it was like before. I choose to have as much or little as technology as I want.
Speaker 1:I do not think that we should be looking at phones, 24, 7 and um. How are we going to like create things of ourself or find times? Because some of my creative creations come when I've allowed myself to be a bit bored and if I'm kind of scrolling all the time, that's just like I don't know, it's just like eating sweets for the brain. I call it it's not the best thing to do, like all the time. And again, it's not saying that I don't scroll, but I'm digressing a bit, but what the whole point was we can choose to be in this world and learn, learn from it from now, but also kind of keep our values and learn. Learn from it from now, but also kind of keep our values.
Speaker 1:And and also, right, when I was a kid we used to get all our milk in glass bottles and not that drink milk anymore, but we used to get drink even orange juices and even like fizzy drinks, and then you could take them to the supermarket and you could take them back to places and you'd get some money back from it and I just don't know where that all kind of went. It's so strange and I've never been a fan of this plastic, but you know it's got to come from the, the corporates, the people up above, in a sense, that like, surely they can make it. So food isn't served in plastic. There's so many things. It's like this biodegradable, like stuff that you can make it, so food isn't served in plastic. There's so many things there's like this biodegradable, like stuff that you can make from mushrooms. It's like, just go back to the old way, we just used to listen. You should go to the greengrocers and measure out your things.
Speaker 1:Um, and I just feel like it's like finding that balance of change, because I noticed that when generations before me, that when I noticed with certain people when they kind of got so fixed that they couldn't take any more change in the world. Then I noticed that they would kind of pass. That sounds a bit morbid, but it was an observation that I noticed with some of the older generation. But equally, I'm just so not into this war between the different generations. I'm just so not into this war between the different generations. Uh as oh, who was it?
Speaker 1:George Orwell, if you haven't read any George Orwell. But he predicted so many, many, many things. He predicted so many things that were going to happen. But his quote, which I particularly like, this every generation imagines itself to be more intelligent than the one that went before it and wiser than the one to come after it, and I think that's so true. But as I see as someone who's been around a bit, I can see, like this, the kind of some of the silly things that the next generation are doing. I can see the stupid things my generation did and I can see the silly things the generation did before. But then I look back and I just think, gosh, the generations before before were just like on another level, like they could fix everything, they didn't waste a single thing and like there was none of this, like, oh I have to have the latest phone, let's just get the latest computer, let's get a car and lease and just get another car and all this kind of thing. People used to buy things and use them to the end.
Speaker 1:Maybe that might not necessarily be the best thing, and maybe it was, but it'd be interesting to know what you find a good about your generation, bad about your generation, and how we can build bridges between the different generations. So generations that x, we are the forgotten generation. So you see quotes in the newspapers and they always go about baby boomers, millennium, gen z, but they don't mention us. Like we're kind of. It's quite funny, there's a bit of irony in that. It's because we're kind of forgotten by the adults when we were grown up, who was like kind of left to kind of run wild and had its good things, because I think we're quite warrior spirit, but at the same time obviously there's downsides to that as well. But change, so change can happen.
Speaker 1:That when you're young you think you're going to look young and beautiful forever and that when you get old that you won't get old and you won't feel any differences. I still think that you can stay young for a very long time, in a sense of how you treat and act for your body, your body's, your temple. You do things for your mind. You do things that are firm, fresh air, good food, nutrition, etc. But things will change as well. Like doesn't matter how much facial yoga you do or how much yoga you do things. Things will change a bit though that is my experience a bit. Things will change a bit, but fear not, if that is the case, then that's just the way it goes. You know it's not like it's not like the end of the world, but of course, if you abuse your body, then it's going to change quicker.
Speaker 1:But change, change, change. What does change mean to you? Like music, I think the generation before me, like my parents' generation, had the best music, but that's my personal opinion. I think there's good artists and all yes, but. But I just think I don't know. Everything just seems to be such a rehash and the fashions like this is just bad, like rehashes of different decades. But it was kind of dying off when I was a kid as well, to be honest, when I was, when I got into my 30s, 40s. It's kind of dying off at my age group as well. So I think it's I don't know. I don't know what I'm trying to say here, but change, change is a possible thing. That happens to us all. And if we can't have the ability to change, then we kind of get stuck in the rut. But I do know that that people that I know that are in their 70s, 80s and they are still really mobile because they didn't just sit and watch tv all the time. They got up and exercised and they looked on for the joints. So some people can go so strong with exercise they end up damaging the joints not very many, I'm guessing. But it's kind of finding that balance.
Speaker 1:But how do you want to change today and what changes would you like to see in the world? And the joy of my one change that I wish would happen is that people would learn the art of compassion again. There just seems to be such harshness towards each other and judging people and and like, if you're frustrated with their life, they kind of weaponize, like these platforms and not called twitter anymore but those platforms and just sit there just having to go up people instead of looking at their own life and you just think, yeah, well, we're all in glass houses, so don't you know whoever tosses stones at one another isn't? It isn't quite the best bet, but taking change mindfully there's is.
Speaker 1:There's another quote which I really like um, the serenity prayer. Um, which is the other thing which I really like is the serenity prayer and, um, I don't know. It says God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. And I think that's so important wisdom to know the difference. There's so many things that we have got no control of or perceive no control over. Um, I don't know, like the world just seems to be getting so offended at everything. I actually see more divisions happening rather than kind of bringing people together.
Speaker 1:So my change would be I would like the world to come a bit more kindness towards each other and a bit more compassion and understanding and knowing that there are different, many different ways to live one's life, and as long as one doesn't have to hurt someone else, and long as we're all living kind of in I know, maybe I sound a bit like a hippie, but I don't care in a piece of harmony and equilibrium, then so be it. But equally we don't want to be under like this, um, kind of dystopian rule where we're kind of not allowed to say or be or have any kind of opinion that doesn't follow the narrative. Or if your opinion does follow the narrative, judge others that don't and vice versa. It's kind of a it's a fine dance. I've got it. The change that I'd like to see is the healthy art of healthy debate and difference of opinion and that that would be a miraculous change in the world. And I'd also like to change it so that people will encourage to have less screen time, that people encourage to go outside more, a bit more walks and to connect with nature.
Speaker 1:And I didn't always live in the city, but if I don't know some projects maybe where people could like dig and garden outside of not everyone has an allotment all the time, but I didn't know I was living in the city. But if I don't know some projects maybe where people could like dig and garden outside of not everyone has an allotment all the time but I don't know if there is some programs and do you share so I can share with our listeners and then change can happen with what our outlooks, what we want from life, and then, as you get older, you realize actually, yeah, I've got a bit of time left, but I haven't got loads of time yet left. What am I going to do with this time? And then that change can kind of bring this feeling of thinking oh no, like, um. It can bring this feeling of thinking, oh no, like. How do I keep this change, um, from being overwhelming, or how can I make this change so I feel like I feel comfortable in this world, and it's the little things that can help that by again going back to serenity, prayer, knowing which things you can change and which things you can't, and having the strength and wisdom to know how to navigate through this world, and then also having more love, compassion and respect for other generations.
Speaker 1:Change can be a positive thing as well, though, so think of all. If you know when, uh, if you feel a bit down or you feel a bit stagnant, you go and change your hair, how refreshing that can be. Or you can paint your lounge, and how refreshing that can be. Or you can try a new hobby, a new sport, a new way of being, and they can inject a kind of rush of kind of um, happy change and joy and well-being. I the only the only wary thing I'll say if you're wary of being a spiritual shopper where you kind of jump from one thing to the other, there is value in all of it, but try and master something instead of being a jack of all trades, as I say, and master of none, but equally something fresh, liberating, maybe visiting somewhere. And if you can't afford a holiday, maybe you can visit somewhere for the day that's as easy to access, to walk a new way home, which you know is obviously safe, but walk a new way home if you do walk places.
Speaker 1:And there's all these different ways that we can bring some change. But the biggest change that you can do is start with yourself and you can change your outlook and work on the world by finding moments for serenity, peace and calmness. And if something bothers you, think of that serenity, prayer, of having the wisdom to know about the things that you can change and the things that you can't. And the things that you can't. Sometimes that can be really frustrating, especially if it's a really big thing. But can you find a gift in this? Can you find a new lens to look into all this and can you find a new way of being within all this.
Speaker 1:So that was my summer edition of my rant about what I think change can be. Um, I would love to hear your ideas and what you think changes and how change can help the world. And what things do you find difficult to talk about and what things would you like to change so that you could talk about them, and what things do you feel you could do a bit more courage to change? And, as I say, the last thing I'd like to say about courage is that courage doesn't mean you're not going to be scared. It just means that you kind of go for it anyway, but in a calculated way, so you don't do something reckless, but at the same time you kind of assess it and then just think actually I'm going to be courageous, I'm going to ring up that I don't know that art gallery and ask if they're going to exhibit my artwork. You know that's even if my heart is pounding. That is kind of courage in action. So I hope my rant was a bit of help to you. I'd love to hear from you very soon and, like I said, we've got not one but two guests on next week's show. This will be a first for me, and what we will do is we will see how this turns out, and so what we're going to do is we're going to do a complete and utter change on the show, but I'm very excited to see that it needs a bit of freshness, a bit of change.
Speaker 1:So top tips for the meditation is either sit nice and cross-legged on the floor, but nice, straight back, always nice to sit on a block or a cushion, although that's not available for you. You sit in a chair with the back nice and straight. The important thing is you're not slouching, and if you're doing something that requires a little concentration, all you need to do is just pause this and you can reconvene the meditation at a time that is good for you. If you're doing the meditation, let's begin. If you're doing the meditation, let's begin. So if you look at the tree in front of you either that is a physical tree or a tree that you've imagined after seeing in a book and you just have your gaze in one spot and you just allow that tree to move, you allow the branches of that tree, as you look at it, to move in the breeze, the reverberation as the wind hits against the leaves, casting a green and magical breeze, like a sea in the air. That wind is blowing away all your cares and you're just allowing yourself to be. Imagine that you're as perfect as can be, as beautiful as you are in the moment. Allow, allow and be. Watch as the leaves move and they dance and they sing and they prance in the wind, and the gentleness of the breeze helps to illuminate a sense of ease within your being.
Speaker 1:Perhaps today is being a little bit more difficult to navigate than other days. Meditation may feel a strain, but if you look at the tree it can help. You feel this breeze, this sense of ease. As you inhale through the nostrils and you exhale and you let it all out, you allow yourself to be yourself, to be free within this moment. Allow yourself to be this moment, allow yourself to be the greenery why it resonates with the sense of self-love inner love, outer love, love for others, love for ourselves.
Speaker 1:Nature is so godly in the sense that it is beautiful, it is there, it is resilient. It's not that nature never has a care for it can be difficult for nature to navigate who's eating who, who's feeding off who, but within it, nature is in the moment, nature is in the now. Nature is so beautiful. Nature just knows how Can you be in line with that nature. Take a calming deep breath and just allow yourself to gently listen to the tree as it moves so gracefully in the breeze. And if your mind pops off somewhere, don't despair. Just come back to the breath, breathe deeply as you take in that tree, just allowing yourself to feel completely and utterly free. Allow, allow. Take a calming deep breath in and out through the nostrils as you inhale, exhale, as you slowly come back into the moment, come back into the room.
