Posts Tagged ‘learntolove’

This piece provides a unique way for each of us to evaluate the privileges we have in our lives, and to consider how that may impact our lives and how we impact other people. The current design of our social systems creates more friction for some people (marginalization) and less for others (privilege). Those who experience less friction have more energy, and therefore have an opportunity—if not an obligation—to apply that energy to reduce the friction caused by our systems and attitudes. In other words, it’s a framework to help each of us move at the speed of care.

Andy was honored to be interviewed by Jordan “Dxtr Spits” Holmes for the How Men Cry project, which is a collective seeking to change the narrative around men’s mental health by sharing honest stories in safe spaces. Wherever you are on your journey, they welcome you with everything you carry.

I grew up in a small town of 10,000 people called Fulton, Missouri, USA, in the 1980s. While the area was generally rural, Fulton was unusually rich in culture. It has two colleges, the state school for the deaf, a state prison, a significant connection to history (e.g., Winston Churchill’s Iron Curtain speech, a sculpture made from eight sections of the Berlin Wall), lots of farmers, academics, scientists and working class families. Fulton stands as the seat of Callaway County, which seceded from both the North and South and technically has never rejoined the United States. To this day people still refer to it as the “Kingdom of Callaway”.

Yet even with all that diversity of thought and experience, it is still populated— overwhelmingly—by people with lightly melanated skin (a.k.a. white people).

Four years ago today I won a 10-week gym challenge and concluded the first leg of a transformational journey. Today was my 600th visit to Farrell’s in Chicago, which offers first rate kickboxing, strength training and most importantly community. You can read about the first three years of my wellness journey here. Now I’d like…

Make Time for Self Love The most common symptom of the modern world that I encounter when I’m coaching productive conscious leaders is that there just isn’t enough time for everything, especially themselves. This lack of focus on self love can deteriorate your fulfillment in life and the energy you have to share your gifts…

The key to meditation is to maintain your compassionate curiosity through your distractions. Self-judgment can come in the form of worrying that you are not “good” at quieting your mind when stray thoughts come in. Meditation isn’t about forcing your mind to be quiet, it’s about developing the muscle of attention by witnessing those thoughts…