Zephyr Wildman, who experienced the death of her husband, shares her journey through grief and finding happiness amidst the darkness. Topics include navigating through difficult experiences, the impact of blame and personal responsibility, breaking the shame culture around depression, and the power of yoga and meditation in healing.
Finding practices that bring vitality and energy during times of grief and stress can lead to personal growth and resilience.
Taking responsibility for one's emotions, thoughts, and behaviors enables individuals to have more compassion for others and find peace within themselves.
Deep dives
Finding vitality and sitting with undesirable feelings
The speaker discusses the importance of finding practices that bring vitality and energy during times of grief and stress. These practices can include being around people who make you laugh, engaging in activities that bring joy, and surrounding yourself with beauty, art, and music. The speaker emphasizes the need to sit with undesirable feelings and emotions rather than numbing them, as numbing not only numbs the bad feelings but also the good ones. She suggests that sitting with discomfort and learning from it can lead to personal growth and resilience.
Taking responsibility for one's emotions
The speaker highlights the importance of taking responsibility for one's emotions, thoughts, and behaviors. Rather than blaming others or external circumstances, she encourages self-awareness, acceptance, and accountability. By taking accountability for one's own reactions and choices, the speaker believes that individuals can have more compassion for others and find peace within themselves. She also emphasizes the significance of embracing imperfection, both in oneself and in others, as a way to connect on a deeper, more authentic level.
Living with grief and finding healing practices
The speaker shares her personal experience of losing her husband to terminal cancer and discusses the journey of healing and finding a life after trauma. She emphasizes the importance of finding practices that bring vitality, such as exercising, eating well, getting enough sleep, and surrounding oneself with supportive and like-minded individuals. The speaker also mentions the value of seeking help, whether it be from support groups, therapists, or spiritual practices. She encourages a daily practice of self-nurture and self-acceptance, acknowledging that healing is a continuous process and that trudging through the difficult moments with gratitude and awareness can lead to growth and serenity.
Letting go and finding trust in the midst of uncertainty
The speaker discusses the challenge of letting go and finding trust in the face of uncertainty and loss. She acknowledges the fear and morbid reality that life is impermanent and that loved ones can be taken away at any moment. To counteract this fear, she suggests cultivating self-awareness, acceptance, and faith. The speaker shares the importance of living in the present moment, practicing gratitude, and engaging in activities that bring joy. She also emphasizes the significance of being mindful of one's thoughts and choices, steering away from numbing behaviors, and seeking connections and community support to navigate through life's obstacles.
We will all lose someone close to us, and the way we cope with that is never certain. But the way Zephyr speaks about the death of her husband has been an inspiration to Fearne.
In this episode we hear stories of bereavement, raising a family on your own, and finding a happy place amongst the darkness. There's also a farting dog.
Thanks to Garnier for supporting this podcast through their Commit to Care initiative. For more information on their work just search Garnier Commit to Care.