In this book, David Richo explores five unavoidable 'givens' of human existence: everything changes and ends, things do not always go according to plan, life is not always fair, pain is a part of life, and people are not loving and loyal all the time. Richo argues that accepting these realities can lead to personal liberation and fulfillment. The book blends insights from Western psychology and Eastern spirituality, offering practical exercises to help readers accept life's challenges and discover their greatest gifts.
In "Shadow Dance," David Richo explores the concept of the shadow self, the darker aspects of our personality that we often repress. He argues that embracing and integrating these aspects can lead to greater self-awareness, creativity, and personal growth. The book provides tools and techniques for understanding and working with our shadow selves. Richo's approach blends psychological and spiritual perspectives, emphasizing the importance of self-acceptance and integration. The book is a valuable resource for anyone seeking to deepen their self-understanding and unlock their full potential.
David Richo's "Ready" explores the complexities of timing in life's significant decisions. It delves into the interplay between intuition and external factors, emphasizing the importance of inner readiness. The book guides readers in discerning when to embrace change and when to persevere, offering practical tools for navigating life's transitions. It challenges the notion of forced timelines, promoting a mindful approach to decision-making. Richo's insights blend psychological and spiritual perspectives, encouraging readers to trust their inner wisdom.
In "Being True to Life," David Richo uses poetry as a tool for personal growth and self-discovery. He explores how poetry can help us understand our emotions, connect with our inner selves, and find meaning in life. The book provides insights into the human condition and offers guidance for navigating life's challenges. Richo's approach blends literary analysis with psychological and spiritual perspectives, making it a compelling read for those interested in both poetry and personal growth. The book encourages readers to engage with poetry on a deeper level, finding relevance and meaning in its timeless wisdom.
In "To Thine Own Self Be True," David Richo uses Shakespeare's plays and sonnets to explore themes of self-discovery, personal growth, and spiritual development. He draws parallels between Shakespeare's characters and contemporary psychological and spiritual concepts. The book offers insights into the human condition and provides guidance for navigating life's challenges. Richo's unique approach combines literary analysis with psychological and spiritual perspectives, making it a compelling read for those interested in both literature and personal growth. The book encourages readers to engage with Shakespeare's work on a deeper level, finding relevance and meaning in his timeless wisdom.
David Richo's "Ready" explores the complexities of timing in life's significant decisions. It delves into the interplay between intuition and external factors, emphasizing the importance of inner readiness. The book guides readers in discerning when to embrace change and when to persevere, offering practical tools for navigating life's transitions. It challenges the notion of forced timelines, promoting a mindful approach to decision-making. Richo's insights blend psychological and spiritual perspectives, encouraging readers to trust their inner wisdom.
In "The Power of Coincidence," David Richo explores the phenomenon of meaningful coincidences, or synchronicities, as described by Carl Jung. He argues that these events are not random but rather messages from a deeper level of reality, offering guidance and insight. The book delves into the spiritual dimension of life, suggesting that coincidences can reveal our purpose and connect us to something greater than ourselves. Richo provides practical examples and exercises to help readers recognize and interpret synchronicities in their own lives. The book encourages a more mindful and receptive approach to life's events.
This book explores the five hallmarks of mindful loving, which are essential for creating and maintaining healthy, adult relationships. Richo emphasizes the importance of attention to the present moment, acceptance of oneself and others, appreciation of all human experiences, affection shown through respectful touch, and allowing life and love to unfold naturally. The book provides practical exercises for both singles and couples, helping readers to move away from judgment, fear, and blame towards openness, compassion, and realism in their relationships. It also addresses topics such as overcoming fears of abandonment and engulfment, expressing emotions in adult and loving ways, and surviving break-ups with intact self-esteem. The book is grounded in mindfulness and spiritual principles, encouraging readers to take responsibility for their own happiness and well-being[1][3][4].
In 'The Wave', Susan Casey explores the world of massive, ship-swallowing rogue waves. The book delves into the historical and scientific aspects of these waves, including the 1,740-foot wave that hit the Alaskan coast in 1958. Casey follows big-wave surfers, such as the legendary Laird Hamilton, as they attempt to ride waves of 70 and 80 feet, and juxtaposes their exploits against the urgent efforts of scientists to understand the destructive powers of these waves. The book covers various types of giant waves, including those caused by landslides, earthquakes, and volcanic activity, and highlights the intersection of human adventure and scientific inquiry in the face of nature’s ferocity.
This week's show is with David Richo, Ph.D. David Richo, Ph.D. is a psychotherapist, a writer, and a popular workshop leader on personal and spiritual growth.
He shares his time between Santa Barbara and San Francisco, California. He combines psychological and spiritual perspectives in his work. His recent books are “Ready: How to Know when to Go and when to Stay” (Shambhala, 2022) and “To Thine Own Self Be True: Shakespeare as Therapist and Spiritual Guide” (Paulist Press, 2023).
He received his BA in psychology from Saint John's Seminary in Brighton, Massachusetts in 1962, his MA in counseling psychology from Fairfield University in 1969, and his PhD in clinical psychology from Sierra University in 1984. Since 1976, Richo has been a licensed marriage, family, and child counselor in California. He teaches courses at Santa Barbara City College and the University of California Berkeley at Berkeley and has taught at the Esalen Institute, Pacifica Graduate Institute, and Santa Barbara Graduate Institute. He is a clinical supervisor for the Community Counseling Center in Santa Barbara, California.
Richo is known for incorporating Buddhism, poetry, and Jungian perspectives in his work. He authored the books "How to Be an Adult in Relationships: The Five Keys to Mindful Loving," "The Five Things We Cannot Change: And the Happiness We Find in Embracing Them," "When the Past Is Present: Healing the Emotional Wounds that Sabotage our Relationships," "Shadow Dance: Liberating the Power and Creativity of Your Dark Side," "The Power of Coincidence: How Life Shows Us What We Need to Know," and "Being True to Life: Poetic Paths to Personal Growth."
In this conversation, David and I explored knowing when we or our clients are ready to choose to make big changes, the mysterious nature of the right timing, and the role of grace.
We’d love to know what YOU think about this week's show. Let’s carry on the conversation… please leave a comment below or share in our fb group.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
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There’s a point at which we know when we’re ready to make a change, this isn’t something that is logical or external - learning to honour that as both individuals and change workers is vital
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When we attempt to apply broad brush strokes, cultural norms or formulas to ourselves or our clients, we miss the unique nature of each person and the timing that is right
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I love how David spoke about the role of grace providing synchronicities and insights… there’s something greater at play than our ego when it comes to change, and actually life as a whole - we are not in control
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The presence of Grace
David Richo and Lian with their respective statues of Our Lady of Guadlupe, mentioned in the show
Resources and stuff that we spoke about:
Thank you for listening!
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Thank you! Lian and Jonathan
Be Mythical 
