Just in time for Valentine's ♥ Day, we are talking love! And we will be talking about a special and perhaps a not so popular type of love...a love that is vital to being able to live a life filled with an abundance of more fulfilling love...a love that we must start to be more comfortable with…a love that, we will come to learn, is critical to being able to love better and more deeply and more genuinely!

The love that we will be talking about is the love we have for …. OURSELVES! SELF-LOVE! We will discuss the emotions of empathy and compassion and how we often consider these elements related to others. We will learn the importance of how practicing empathy and having compassion for ourselves are key to loving ourselves more wholly. We will learn about the concepts of self-kindness, common humanity and mindfulness and how we can use these practices to overcome the barriers to self love which include self criticism, self judgment, and self hatred.

So come on this journey of being present and being mindful and how mindfulness can help unleash a more loving version of yourself - to yourself - Right Here! Right Now!

Hope part II we dive into the interplay between hope and purpose and how hope fuels our purpose; and purpose sustains hope. Purpose-driven hope helps us navigate life’s challenges and celebrate its triumphs. And we look to learn and have the capacity to embrace the journey over the destination:

• The joy of navigation and the lessons from detours.
• Avoiding rigid expectations to cultivate our resilience.

We look to introduce practical strategies to cultivate hope reflecting on past victories and lessons learned and visualizing possibilities with curiosity and an open heart.

Thank you for joining us! 

Be present...

Be mindful...

Be purposeful in your pursuit of hope...

Right Here!

Right Now!

Today we will discuss hope and reflect on pivotal questions, such as:

• Can envisioning a better future help us navigate the present?
• What tools can guide us toward a better tomorrow?
• How can hope and mindfulness coexist without compromising present-moment awareness?
• What actions can foster hope and lead to a more fulfilling future?

The Nature of Hope

Hope will be presented as a belief that the future can be better, coupled with the capacity to make it so. Unlike optimism, which is a general positive outlook, hope is action-oriented and includes a plan to achieve a desired outcome. We will emphasize that hope involves acknowledging challenges and preparing for the journey with resilience and intentionality.

Hope as a Cognitive Process

I will introduce the idea of hope as a bridge between challenges and actionable steps. Hope isn’t wishful thinking but a conscientious effort to navigate obstacles and turn them into opportunities and lessons for a better capacity to deal with life's challenges. The episode highlights its practical power, particularly in challenging times, and underscores the necessity of aligning hope with a plan to achieve goals.

Reflection on Hope and its Role in Life

Listen with intention and I encourage you to ponder how hope:

• Motivates us to pursue meaningful change.
• Intersects with mindfulness and resilience.
• Provides guidance during detours in life.

Open up to the transformative power of hope in turning obstacles into paths of growth.

Takeaways

• Hope is essential for envisioning and working toward a better future.
• It is a dynamic, action-oriented process that helps us navigate life’s uncertainties.
• Mindful curiosity and questioning are key to cultivating hope and resilience.

Be present...

Be mindful...

Right Here! Right Now!

From the inspiration created by The Essence of Mindfulness quote that inspired the last 2 episodes comes a poem that allows us to embrace time and each of our moments in time.

I hope this inspires you to be more mindful and present and aware of the capacity that our moments in time have for each of us...in the present moment awareness of our mindfulness practice.

Click here to check out the poetry on our website!

Welcome back to part 2 of our Essence of Mindfulness journey. 

Discover and unleash the power of the present moment awareness that we can bring to each of our moments in time. 

Be compassionate with your practices - all of them people!! This practice of Mindfulness is not easy but I urge you to listen and come to this moment with an openness and a spirit of curiosity to imagine what each mindfully lived moment can offer you.

Be present...

Be mindful... 

Be deliberate in your mantra that drops you into this very moment...

Right Here!

Right Now!

Link to upgraded website

Happy New Year! 

First episode released this new year! 

A working and evolving and mindfully created and inspired thought of the essence of what the practice of mindfulness has to offer each and every one of us in each and every one of our moments in time!

Be present...

Be mindful...

Be aware of how this moment impacts your very next moment...

Right Here!

Right Now!

A Holiday Rest - being more mindfully merry in our moments this time of year. A special holiday delight...a poem to help you slow down...in the moment of our holiday bustling...

Be present...

Be mindful...

With the essence of our presence among all of our presents!!

Right Here! Right Now!

Through perhaps our greatest virtue of curiosity - a deep held passion for the desire to understand what we seem to not be able to comprehend or make sense of in the world we live in - comes this particular outline of lessons that I continue to learn. A continuous process of thinking and questioning and reflecting and more questioning as possibly one day deeper insight may come. Leading to wisdom…the act of putting it all together in some way to apply new information to new circumstances for a new way of showing up as a better version of you! I am not sure exactly what prompted my thought of putting together some of my own lessons that I have realized over the years of mindful reflection. 

An offering of some words that have really but one primary purpose from me to you - to be inspired to do some reflecting of your own. Then I wanted to see what I could do to match or somehow cross reference my words with words gifted to us by some really incredible learners and teachers of philosophy, science, practical thought, Stoicism, spiritual gurus…and what has been created was some pretty interesting summaries of various lessons that we can reflect on. 

Follow on Youtube:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnpv2LqaFMseipeTOgnQutA 

#mindfulness #reflection #podcast #presence #quotes

Be present...

Be mindful...

Right Here! Right Now!

Healing is for the heroic spirit within each of us...Healing can be something we work on with a greater ability to smile and be immersed in some level of joy...

“If you can recognize and accept your pain without running away from it, you will discover that although pain is there, joy can also be there at the same time.” Thich Nhat Hanh

Come on this journey of healing with me...

Be Present ... Be Mindful ... and be open to the good parts of healing and the more difficult parts of healing... on this journey of healing as we go...

Right Here! Right Now!

Welcome back Right Here! Right Now! In today’s episode, we lead you through a powerful mindfulness mindset centered around reflection, presence, and resilience. This episode dives deep into how we can cultivate a mindset that transforms obstacles into opportunities for growth, drawing from Stoic philosophy, Buddhist teachings, and mindful practices.

With the guidance of Marcus Aurelius’ famous words, “The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way,” we look to encourage our beautiful listeners to reflect on the challenges we face and how we can use them as fuel to strengthen our resolve.

Throughout this episode, you’ll find practical exercises, including a Mindful Moment reflection practice, that can be easily incorporated into your daily routine. You’ll learn how to use mindfulness to notice your emotions, embody compassion for yourself, and embrace a mindset that fosters peace and gratitude.

Whether you're on a path of mindfulness or just beginning, this episode offers insightful, relatable reflections and practices to help you live more mindfully, day by day, moment by moment. Join us as we explore the beauty of embodied reflection and the transformative power of mindfulness.

Right Here! Right Now!

Be present...Be mindful...Be reflective...

Timestamps:

• [00:00] - Introduction: Welcome Back to Right Here, Right Now
• [06:15] - Marcus Aurelius Quote: Turning Obstacles Into Opportunities
• [09:30] - Stoic and Buddhist Perspectives on Obstacles and Perception
• [14:00] - Daily Practice: The Mindful Moment Reflection
• [17:45] - The Power of Reflection and Writing for Mindfulness
• [21:00] - Encouragement to Practice Self-Compassion and Patience
• [24:00] - Conclusion: Embrace the Process, Show Up for Yourself

Key Takeaways:

• Obstacles are inevitable, but by shifting our perception, we can use them to advance our growth.
• Daily mindfulness practice—starting with just one minute of focused breathing—can help you slow down, reflect, and live more intentionally.
• Writing down your reflections can be a powerful tool in cultivating awareness, resilience, and self-compassion.
• The goal is to notice, not judge. By practicing mindful reflection, we can learn to let go and begin again with each new moment.

Resources Mentioned:

• Marcus Aurelius: Meditations
• Mindfulness Reflection Routine [Detailed in Episode]

Call to Action: If you find today’s practice helpful, share this episode with a friend who could benefit from more mindfulness in their life. Let’s continue to grow together in this journey—one mindful moment at a time! Be present, be reflective, and be resilient. Right Here! Right Now!

Another bonus created for each and every one of my beautiful listeners!

A special bonus episode featuring a mindfulness intention and creative poem I wrote inspired by the paradox of grief. It’s titled Presence of Your Absence—a heartfelt reflection on love and loss that I hope will provide comfort and connection or at the very least a moment of reflection of the love we can celebrate in the memories that we were blessed to share.

Be present...

Be mindful...

Be compassionate to yourself in the feelings of emptiness that may overwhelm us at times...

Right Here!

Right Now!

Listen today for the first time or listen again as we REPLAY one of my favorite episodes from season 3!

Happy Thanksgiving people!  Today, let's turn this seasonal practice of gratitude into a powerful daily and mindful practice.  We often reflect on what we can be grateful for as we sit with family around the turkey and all it's trimmings...Reflect on how good it feels to be grateful as we pause and appreciate the good (and maybe the not so good) in our lives.  Let today be the first day of a gratitude practice and watch your well being and your overall health and wellness shift on your path to being a little more balanced with your emotional state.  

Be present and be mindful and be grateful - today and every day!

Right Here!

Right Now!

This episode was produced, recorded and edited by yours truly - Michael Scicchitano!  Grateful for all of you loyal listeners of the show!

Please be sure to share the episode and rate the show!  Thank you!

#gratefulness

#gratitude

#Thanksgiving

Music Credit:

Intro music:

STKA_Path To Chaos Strngs from the album STKA-Rock-Orchestral 1 by Strike Audio [Curtis Marolt, William Jay Stein, Michael A. Rosen] by way of PodcastMusic.com 

PROMO music:

STKA_Path To Chaos Undrscr1 from the album STKA-Rock-Orchestral 1 by Strike Audio [Curtis Marolt, William Jay Stein, Michael A. Rosen] by way of PodcastMusic.com 

Outro music:

STKA_Path To Chaos Stng2 from the album STKA-Rock-Orchestral 1 by Strike Audio [Curtis Marolt, William Jay Stein, Michael A. Rosen] by way of PodcastMusic.com 

Unlocking Life’s Paradoxes: Counterintuitive Insights for Emotional Growth and Mindful Living

Listen to Part I:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/unlocking-lifes-paradoxes-counterintuitive-insights/id1616393846?i=1000677440158

Welcome back to Right Here! Right Now! I’m your host, Michael Scicchitano, and today we’re diving deep into a fascinating and transformative topic: paradoxes—those seemingly contradictory truths that challenge our instincts and reveal deeper wisdom upon closer reflection.

In this episode, we’ll explore how embracing life’s paradoxes can profoundly shift how we approach challenges, manage emotional pain, and navigate the complexity of human experience. From accepting pain to finding strength in vulnerability, and from slowing down to achieve more to seeing grief as love in disguise, these counterintuitive insights offer powerful tools for mindful living.

We’ll reflect on:

• How accepting pain invites healing rather than intensifying it.
• The paradox of letting go of control to gain control in uncertain moments.
• Why fear and courage coexist, and how fear creates opportunities for bravery.
• The strength found in vulnerability and authentic connection.
• Embracing uncertainty as a path to peace.
• Why focusing on others can help us heal even when we feel we can’t.
• The insight that mindfulness is about awareness, not immediate calm.
• The transformative power of slowing down to achieve more.
• Grief as a reflection of love: “Grief is love in disguise.”

Join me in this 2 part series as we uncover how these paradoxes can unlock new ways of thinking, bring healing, and help us grow into our most authentic selves. Along the way, we’ll share perspectives from philosophy, science, and mindfulness practices to inspire fresh approaches to life’s toughest challenges.

If this episode resonated with you, share it with someone who might need these insights. And don’t forget to subscribe to Right Here, Right Now for more episodes exploring mindfulness, emotional health, and personal growth.

Let’s continue this journey together, embracing each paradox with curiosity and compassion—RHRN!

Be present...

Be mindful...

Be open to counter intuitive insights...

Right Here! Right Now!

Mental and Substance Use Disorder Treatment

Visit findtreatment.gov – a confidential and anonymous resource for persons seeking treatment for mental and substance use disorders in the United States and its territories, OR connect with SAMHSA's National Helpline:

• Call 1-800-662-HELP (4357)
• Text your 5-digit ZIP Code to 435748 (HELP4U). Reply HELP to reach an information specialist

Meditation is not for everyone all the time...

Maybe today you gently give it a try...

Be present...

Be mindful...

RIght Here!

Right Now!

Unlocking Life’s Paradoxes: Counterintuitive Insights for Emotional Growth and Mindful Living

Welcome back to Right Here, Right Now! I’m your host, Michael Scicchitano, and today we’re diving deep into a fascinating and transformative topic: paradoxes—those seemingly contradictory truths that challenge our instincts and reveal deeper wisdom upon closer reflection.

In this episode, we’ll explore how embracing life’s paradoxes can profoundly shift how we approach challenges, manage emotional pain, and navigate the complexity of human experience. From accepting pain to finding strength in vulnerability, and from slowing down to achieve more to seeing grief as love in disguise, these counterintuitive insights offer powerful tools for mindful living.

We’ll reflect on:

• How accepting pain invites healing rather than intensifying it.
• The paradox of letting go of control to gain control in uncertain moments.
• Why fear and courage coexist, and how fear creates opportunities for bravery.
• The strength found in vulnerability and authentic connection.
• Embracing uncertainty as a path to peace.
• Why focusing on others can help us heal even when we feel we can’t.
• The insight that mindfulness is about awareness, not immediate calm.
• The transformative power of slowing down to achieve more.
• Grief as a reflection of love: “Grief is love in disguise.”

Join me in this 2 part series as we uncover how these paradoxes can unlock new ways of thinking, bring healing, and help us grow into our most authentic selves. Along the way, we’ll share perspectives from philosophy, science, and mindfulness practices to inspire fresh approaches to life’s toughest challenges.

Plus, stay tuned for a special bonus episode featuring a mindfulness intention and creative poem I wrote inspired by the paradox of grief. It’s titled Presence of Your Absence—a heartfelt reflection on love and loss that I hope will provide comfort and connection.

So, take a mindful deep breath, settle into the moment, and let’s explore how the counterintuitive can become transformative.

Key Takeaways from This Episode:

1. Life’s challenges often require us to rethink instinctual responses.
2. Slowing down and reflecting on paradoxes can unlock new perspectives.
3. Growth and healing often emerge from unexpected, counterintuitive insights.

Call to Action:

If this episode resonated with you, share it with someone who might need these insights. And don’t forget to subscribe to Right Here, Right Now for more episodes exploring mindfulness, emotional health, and personal growth.

Let’s continue this journey together, embracing each paradox with curiosity and compassion—RHRN!

Be present...

Be mindful...

Be open to counter intuitive insights...

Right Here! Right Now!

Welcome back people! This week's BONUS episode invites us all to find some stillness and some solace in our storms...This episode invites you to pause, breathe, and find your stillness. Whether you’re in the eye of the storm or just beginning to face one, remember that within each storm lies an opportunity to reflect, grow, and become stronger than before. Another creative poem for our beautiful community of followers.

The Essence of Being "Still in the Storm": We delve into the poem's central theme, exploring how to find stillness amid life's inevitable turbulence. Can we truly stay centered when facing challenges? And if so, what does that look like?

Embracing Stillness as Growth: This episode is an invitation to consider each storm as a teacher—one that enhances our capacity for resilience and transformation. When we allow ourselves to be still, we gain clarity, acceptance, and strength.

The Breath as a Source of Power: Our breath serves as a grounding force and with each breath we can find calm within the chaos. We are again reminded of the importance of mindful breathing to navigate life's challenges.

An Invitation to Reflect and Find Peace: I hope that you find the poem’s gentle flow and meditative tone an invitation to a tranquil space to reflect on your own storms and the ways we can navigate them. How might we approach each challenge with the intention to emerge better than before?

Welcome back people - Right Here! Right Now! The podcast that invites you to slow down, breathe, and rediscover peace amidst the chaos. Today, we're diving deep into the power of solitude and how it can help us heal in a world that often feels overwhelming.

In this episode, we explore:

• Reframing Solitude: Solitude isn’t about physical isolation or escapism. It's about discovering a calm, grounded place within yourself. We break down common misconceptions and offer a more empowering view—one where solitude becomes a tool for connection and inner peace leading to an inner strength.
• The Healing Power of Solitude: Just as we need moments of stillness, solitude allows us to sit with our feelings, acknowledge our pain or whatever emotion or thought we are experiencing, and it offers us the capacity to heal without pushing emotions away. By inviting solitude, we gently cultivate resilience and open a pathway to self-compassion.
• Mindful Breathing and Centering: We focus on the breath as a bridge between mind and body. I share practical techniques for using mindful breathing to ground yourself, access calmness, and find that “serene island” within, even when life gets turbulent.
• Living with Inner Stillness: Imagine carrying a sense of calm throughout your day, having the capacity to access a grounded and steady practice no matter what happens around you. This practice isn’t about blocking out the world; it’s about responding from a place of mindful awareness, building resilience and becoming stronger with each challenge.
• Finding Solitude Daily: Whether through mindful breathing or moments of self-reflection, solitude can be woven into even the busiest of lives. I encourage my beautiful community of listeners to embrace solitude as a way to reclaim a sense of control, even if it’s just one breath at a time.

Tune in to this episode for a thoughtful journey into how solitude and mindfulness can be a refuge, helping us all heal, grow, and find peace. Right Here! Right Now!

Connect with Us: Instagram | Website

In this heartfelt poetry episode, I am sharing a personal piece dedicated to my beloved boys—and to all of us who wish to hold on to the wonder and freedom of our  youth. Through these words, I hope to reflect on the bittersweet journey of growing up and the desire to keep the magic of childhood alive, despite life’s inevitable pressures and responsibilities.

Join me as I read aloud my original work in this beloved connection of words in this poem, I don't want to grow up, a moving reminder to “keep your head up” and “stay young at heart.” I invite listeners to embrace every moment, to find joy in the little things, and to bring that childlike curiosity into all things in our older lives. In a world that often tells us to “grow up,” this poem is a call to slow down, remain present, and make each moment truly count in a wondrous spirit of childlike curiosity - with an open heart and an open mind.

Key Themes in This Episode:

• Cherishing Youthful Wonder: A reflection on how to carry the joy and simplicity of childhood forward, even as we navigate adulthood and perhaps even old age.
• Mindfulness and Presence: These words offer a powerful reminder to live fully in each moment, making it a timeless treasure.
• Staying True to Yourself: Encouragement for listeners to keep their inner child alive, resisting the pressures to conform to a “grown-up” world that might dim their light.

Notable Excerpts from the Poem:

“I don’t want to grow older… I just want to be back in time for a life that was based on the time we erased, to drop back into those wondrous times where time wasn’t timed.”

Link to Nostalgia Episode:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-hidden-power-of-nostalgia-right-here-right-now/id1616393846?i=1000565422453 

Be present...
Be mindful...
Be a kid again people!

Right Here!
Right Now!

In this episode, we dive into the transformative power of embracing both work and play as interconnected aspects of life, inspired by a timeless quote from Francois Auguste Rene Chateaubriand. The idea of fully immersing oneself in any endeavor—whether it’s labor or leisure—creates a space where the distinction between work and play fades, allowing us to approach life with a sense of wonder and creativity.

We reflect on how this mindset has reshaped my approach to my own career in healthcare and how a spirit of playfulness and joy can enrich our professional lives, leading to deeper engagement, collaboration, and even innovation. This episode challenges us to cultivate mindfulness, presence, and enthusiasm in everything we do, transforming ordinary tasks into opportunities for growth and fulfillment and yes, joy!!

Key Takeaways:

1. Work and Play as One: By integrating joy and purpose into our tasks, we blur the lines between work and play, creating more fulfilling experiences.
2. Flow and Mindfulness: Being present in the moment, whether at work or during recreation, allows us to tap into a state of flow where challenges become enjoyable.
3. Intrinsic Motivation: Shifting from a mindset of “I have to” to “I get to” go to work can transform your outlook, fostering creativity and gratitude.
4. Childlike Wonder: Reclaiming the joy and curiosity of our youth can bring levity to even the most serious of tasks, allowing for more connection and collaboration.
5. Practical Wisdom: We share our insights on how to apply these principles in everyday life, from the workplace to personal pursuits.

Quote of the Episode: "A master in the art of living draws no sharp distinction between his work and his play; his labor and his leisure; his mind and his body; his education and his recreation." – Francois Auguste Rene Chateaubriand

Mentioned in this Episode:

• Heraclitus: "No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it is not the same river and he is not the same man."
• Aristotle: "We are what we repeatedly do, excellence is not an act but a habit."

Actionable Insight: Take a moment to reflect on your own life—where can you bring more playfulness and joy into your daily tasks? Start small by finding one area where you can blur the lines between work and leisure, and see how it transforms your approach.

Thank You for Listening: Thank you for tuning in to Right Here! Right Now! If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with a friend, and let’s continue spreading the joy of living with purpose and wonder. Don’t forget to share, subscribe, leave a review, and stay tuned for more mindful insights in upcoming episodes.

Tech-no-logic: The Digital Dilemma of Our Times

In this special episode of Right Here! Right Now! we go on a poetic journey through the digital landscape in my original work, Tech-no-logic. With evocative language and rhythmic flow, we explore the complex relationship we have with technology—how it captivates, entraps, and sometimes divides us. From the screens that demand our constant attention to the algorithms that shape our experience, this poem will hopefully inspire you to reflect on the social, emotional, and psychological impacts of our technological age.

Through vivid metaphors and raw honesty, Tech-no-logic invites listeners to pause and reflect on our own screen time, how it's affecting their relationships, and what we might be missing in the present moments of our lives. I hope my words offer a thoughtful perspective on finding balance in a hyper-connected world, encouraging us all to reclaim our time, our minds, and our true sense of presence.

What to Expect:

• A powerful and timely original poem about technology's impact on our lives.
• Reflections on the modern digital dilemma and how technology shapes our identity and behavior.
• An invitation to pause and consider how we interact with the digital world.
• Creative insights into how technology disconnects us from each other and from ourselves.

Key Takeaways:

• How technology, while seemingly a gift, can pull us out of the present moment and away from meaningful human connection.
• The emotional and psychological toll of being constantly connected, yet paradoxically isolated.
• The challenge of reclaiming our time, attention, and focus from the grip of technology.

Inspired to Act: If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to share it with someone who might also be feeling the effects of too much screen time. You can also follow Right Here, Right Now for more mindfulness insights, poetry and creative reflections on modern life.

As we come upon this season of Halloween - where we look for things that might scare us in a fun and transient way - we will cozy up with the made up things that instill a fear within us - a fear that we battle with a little too often — perhaps needlessly fighting these fears. 

We will take excerpts from a Stoic philosopher - Seneca - who wrote many philosophical pieces - many in the form of letters. This letter is on “Groundless Fears” written to Lucilius:

🎃

“There are more things likely to frighten us than there are to crush us; we suffer more often in imagination than in reality.”

Join us on our journey where we will be better at recognizing fears that may never come to be and how we can be more mindful and present to combat the fears that torment us needlessly. 

Be present and be mindful, people! Right Here! Right Now!

On the podcast today - Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) - we will try to begin to understand the capacity of this new technology and how it may offer some wonderful new ways of doing things - experiencing our world - and learning about many exciting aspects of its capability. Is it a little scary? Sure. But it is equally as exciting! 

Join us today as we explore and get into a conversation with an artificial intelligence entity in the form of Chat GPT. It was fascinating to have this "conversation" or "chat" with a computer - a machine - and we will learn a little about how this new technology learns and actually is in its early stages of progress in being able to teach itself through the recognition of patterns over time. Absolutely fascinated by the creation of this episode! Excited to share and excited for feedback!

Be present

Be mindful

Right Here! Right Now!

Superheros are born every day!  Superheros are found in every way!

Look around and look within...

For that superhero inside...waiting to be discovered and unleashed...in just the right time...up up and away!

Enjoy this poem presented as spoken word art set to a meditative musical sound that I hope will inspire you to be heroic AND to find the hero inside another...

Be present...

Be mindful...

Be heroically super...

Right Here! Right Now!

Join us for a bonus episode this week as we mindfully embrace the creative side of ourselves and look deep inside for some heroic traits in getting through our challenges and showing up up and away for those that need our strength and support!

A bonus episode - a poem that was created to embrace the strength we need for ourselves and the strength we need for others! 

In this episode of Right Here, Right Now, we dive into the power of an innovator’s mindset and how we can cultivate creativity in our everyday lives. Drawing from my own experience preparing for a new role, we will explore what it means to truly innovate—both in process and in mindset. From asking the right questions to embodying key traits like open-mindedness, curiosity, and resilience, we break down how we can all become innovators, even outside the tech world. With mindfulness as a key practice, we show how tuning into the present moment can unleash creativity and foster innovation in everything from personal growth to professional excellence.

Tune in for insights, reflections, and practical tips to help you unlock your own innovative potential!

Be Present

Be Mindful

Right Here! Right Now!

Welcome back to Right Here, Right Now! I'm your host, Michael Scicchitano, and today we’re diving deep into how mindfulness can help us build resilience—and even make us antifragile—in the face of life’s inevitable challenges.

In this episode, we explore:

• The Stoic Connection: How ancient wisdom from Stoics like Marcus Aurelius, Seneca, and Epictetus can guide our modern mindfulness practice.
• Defining Resilience: What does it mean to be resilient, and how can we cultivate this capacity to recover quickly and withstand difficulties?
• Antifragility: Going beyond resilience, we explore the concept of growing stronger because of challenges, not in spite of them.
• Mindfulness and Stoicism in Practice: How to integrate mindfulness techniques—like deep breathing and staying present—to respond to stress more calmly and deliberately, and how this aligns with Stoic principles of focusing on what we can control.
• Practical Steps: Tips on how to use mindfulness and gratitude to not only survive tough times but thrive through them, transforming challenges into opportunities for growth.

This episode also features some of my favorite Stoic quotes, including the timeless wisdom from Marcus Aurelius: “The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way.” This quote has inspired both modern psychology’s study of resilience and the notion of antifragility.

Key Takeaways:

• Resilience is a practice, a mindset we can develop through mindful awareness of our responses to challenges.
• Mindfulness allows us to pause, reflect, and shift our focus from what we cannot control to what we are able to control.
• By embracing difficulties, we don’t just bounce back—we grow stronger, more adaptable, and better equipped to face life’s inevitable struggles.
• Practical tips for cultivating resilience include mindful breathing, asking "What can I control?" in stressful moments, and practicing daily gratitude, even for the challenges that shape us.

If you're ready to take the next step in building resilience and becoming antifragile, this episode is for you. Remember to share, rate, and review the podcast to help spread the message to those who might benefit from these insights.

Thank you for being part of this incredible journey with me, and let’s continue growing and strengthening each other—Right Here, Right Now.