Ep 66: Habits of a Whole Heart with Arnie Herz and guest Bernie Furshpan P2 on hmTv

Episode 66: Habits of a Whole Heart with Arnie Herz and Bernie Furshpan (Part 2)

In Part 2 of this enlightening conversation on Habits of a Whole Heart on hmTv, host Arnie Herz continues his deep and thoughtful dialogue with guest Bernie Furshpan. Together, they explore what it means to cultivate inner wholeness through conscious habits that align the human and godly self.

From surviving a life-threatening heart condition to spending years studying meditation and yoga in India, Bernie shares the pivotal experiences that shaped his understanding of purpose, integration, and emotional resilience. He and Arnie discuss the power of mindfulness, the role of ego in conflict, and how the habits we form can either pull us down or elevate us toward our higher potential.

Listeners will learn how to reframe everyday stressors, remain grounded in high-pressure situations, and embrace the transformational habit of asking, “Am I an inciter or an inspirer?” Through relatable stories and spiritual insight, this episode provides a roadmap for living with more presence, purpose, and peace.

Tune in and discover how building habits of a whole heart can change the way you live, love, and lead.

Transcript

Episode 66: Habits of a Whole Heart
Host: Arnie Herz | Guest: Bernie Furshpan | hmTv

Hello and thank you for joining me today. I’m your host, Arnie Herz, and on today’s episode of Habits of a Whole Heart on hmTv, my special guest Bernie Furshpan joins me once again for a conversation about the core principles of cultivating a whole heart.

Arnie:
Bernie, thank you for being here again today.

Bernie:
Thanks for inviting me. I really appreciate it. I thought our conversation on episode one went really well, especially considering it was my first podcast episode. I appreciated you guiding me along and connecting with me on this topic.

Arnie:
It was a great discussion. I’m thrilled you’re writing about habits—especially habits of a whole heart. I’m curious how you define a whole heart. What happens when someone reaches that state? Can we ever be 100% whole?

Bernie:
I think we all experience moments of wholeness—moments where we feel deeply connected to our larger self and to our highest aspirations. It’s a kind of natural high. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi talks about it in his work on flow. Through meditation and stillness, we can access that state of purpose and meaning. But in today’s world, with all the anxiety, fear, and confusion, it’s not easy to stay there.

Arnie:
That’s so true. We’re living in a world full of stressors—economic, social, personal. And yet, at the core of us, there’s stillness. When we tap into that, we can meet the world’s challenges without being overtaken by them.

Bernie:
Absolutely. Some of my greatest teachers—Gandhi, Mandela, the Lubavitcher Rebbe—embodied that inner strength. They didn't let external circumstances dictate their inner peace. Viktor Frankl also taught us this. And that’s why I call the podcast Habits of a Whole Heart—it’s a bit of a play on words.

Arnie:
Tell me more about that.

Bernie:
When I was 20, I was playing basketball and blew a hole in my aortic heart valve. I went into congestive heart failure. It was six weeks before my 21st birthday. Everything I thought mattered—law school, success, recognition—meant nothing in that moment. It reframed my entire perspective.

Arnie:
That’s powerful. It's often when we lose something—our health, our comfort—that we realize what truly matters. But then, we tend to slip back into old habits.

Bernie:
Exactly. That’s why I took four years off and went to India to study yoga and meditation. I needed to internalize the lessons. Because integration starts within. We’re divided inside, and that division reflects outward. To feel whole, we need to integrate our human side with our godly essence.

Arnie:
But how does the average person do that? How do they take the steps toward wholeness?

Bernie:
It starts with setting a goal. If it matters to you, you’ll put in the work. The default is fear, selfishness, anxiety. But the muscle we must build is trust, generosity, and discipline. Wholeness isn't mystical—it’s practical. It’s about habits. That’s the science behind it.

Arnie:
And the reward?

Bernie:
The reward is freedom from anxiety, fear, and anger. If people reflect on how often they experience those emotions and ask themselves if they still want that, they’ll see the value in doing the work.

Arnie:
There are so many books out there about habits for success, weight loss, business. But your book seems different—it speaks to something deeper.

Bernie:
Yes. This isn’t about becoming a "better" you. It’s about giving voice to the godly you—the higher self that already exists. We’re not trying to build something from scratch, we’re uncovering what’s already there and practicing it until it becomes real and familiar.

Arnie:
That’s a beautiful message. And it ties into how habits can trigger other habits, layering into a lifestyle of wholeness.

Bernie:
Right. Just like physical fitness, spiritual and emotional wholeness takes consistent practice. You’re building inner strength, flexibility, and resilience.

Arnie:
For me, it’s about listening deeply to others. People often ask how I stay so calm. I didn’t even realize it was a habit until others pointed it out. But I try to feel the pain of others instead of focusing on my own. That creates connection and de-escalates conflict.

Bernie:
That’s a perfect example. You don’t take things personally. You’re acting from a place of wholeness, so you can give to others. That’s key—wholeness lets us avoid being threatened. We realize that nothing is being taken from us.

Arnie:
Exactly. Even when someone disagrees or criticizes, they’re not taking anything from me. And that’s freeing.

Bernie:
Wholeness is our natural state. But we often let small things take us away from it. For example, I recently flew back from my parents' 65th anniversary, and there were travel hiccups—no legroom, bag had to be checked. In that moment, I had to decide: does this matter?

Arnie:
Yes, it’s a matter of energy. Do I want to spend hours being upset over ten minutes of inconvenience?

Bernie:
Right. And in conflict, I use a question as a mental habit: "Am I an inciter or an inspirer?" That shifts the energy and reconnects people to their higher self.

Arnie:
That’s such a great tool. I’ve seen it too—once you reframe the moment, you remind others of their own better selves.

Bernie:
Exactly. In fact, working with the Let’s Go podcast with Tom Brady, I loved his mindset: "Win or learn." It’s not about losing—it’s about learning. That’s where the real growth happens. And that mindset is one of the key habits we’ll talk about more in future episodes.

Arnie:
Bernie, our time has flown by. Thank you for being here and for your deep insights.

Bernie:
It was my pleasure. I’d be happy to come back anytime.

Arnie:
Thank you to everyone for tuning into this episode of Habits of a Whole Heart on hmTv. I want to thank my guest, Bernie Furshpan, for sharing such powerful wisdom. Be sure to subscribe, share, and stay connected for more meaningful conversations. Until next time—take care and be well.

4o

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