498 | Will I Ever be Content? with Dana Crews, MA, MBSR, ADHD-CSP
Aug 29, 2023
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Dana Crews, a coach and advocate for invisible disabilities, discusses the difference between satisfaction and contentment. They explore the discomfort in familiarity and the struggle of holding onto contentment for ADHD brains. The podcast also delves into the inseparable connection between mind, heart, brain, and body in Buddhism and explores regret and ADHD awareness.
Contentment is not just about staying in the present moment, but also about finding a balance between seeking and being present.
Resilience plays a crucial role in experiencing contentment by helping individuals bounce back from adversity and embrace life's challenges.
Deep dives
The Beauty and Struggle of Seeking Contentment
The podcast episode explores the concept of contentment and the ongoing search for it. The host and guest discuss the idea that contentment is not about staying in the present moment only, but also about finding a balance between seeking and being present. They explore how mindfulness and Buddhist psychology can play a role in finding contentment by embracing self-acceptance, resilience, and the ability to respond rather than react to life's challenges. The guest also shares their personal journey of seeking and how it has shaped their understanding of contentment. They discuss the importance of self-awareness, curiosity, and the willingness to explore one's own mind and emotions. Overall, the episode highlights the complexity and nuance of contentment and offers insights into finding it amidst life's ups and downs.
The Role of Resilience in Contentment
Resilience is highlighted as a key factor in experiencing contentment. The podcast delves into how resilience allows individuals to bounce back from adversity and challenges. It is seen as a quality that helps to embrace the ever-changing nature of life and to respond rather than react to difficult situations. The guest shares their own experiences of resilience and how it has contributed to their understanding of contentment. The importance of self-acceptance and the ability to let go of resistance and judgment is also discussed as crucial aspects of cultivating resilience and finding contentment.
The Seeking Mindset and Contentment
The podcast delves into the complexity of the seeking mindset and its relationship to contentment. The host and guest reflect on how individuals with ADHD often have a natural inclination to seek novelty and excitement, which can sometimes make it challenging to experience contentment. They discuss the balance between the desire for new experiences and the ability to find contentment in the present moment. The guest shares personal insights about embracing the journey of seeking and finding contentment amidst the pursuit of new challenges and adventures. They also explore the intersections between mindfulness, curiosity, and contentment in fostering personal growth.
Buddhist Psychology and Contentment
The podcast delves into the core principles of Buddhist psychology and its role in cultivating contentment. The guest explains that Buddhist psychology is focused on understanding the mind, the interconnectedness of mind, body, heart, and the importance of self-awareness. They highlight the concept of suffering and the role of acceptance, non-resistance, and self-compassion in finding contentment. The guest emphasizes the importance of mindfulness, curiosity, and experimentation in gaining wisdom, understanding, and transforming self-judgment. The episode explores how Buddhist teachings can be integrated into coaching and therapy to promote contentment and reduce suffering.
In today’s show, Eric is joined by Dana Crews! Dana has been a coach, educator, facilitator, and trainer in the behavioral health and mental health field for over 15 years. She is currently combining her own personal practice, unique life experience, and education in the ancient wisdom traditions together with modern psychology and behavioral and neuroscience research in her newly-created mindfulness ADHD life-coaching business: Second Arrow Life Coaching! Dana is an advocate for invisible disabilities and neurodivergence. She believes that knowing and connecting to your core values and practicing basic mindfulness and yogic techniques allows us to transform self-judgment and fear into constructive reflection, insight, compassion, health, and creative solutions. Find Dana on LinkedIn Learn more about Dana at her website secondarrowlifecoaching.com Find Dana on Instagram @secondarrowlifecoaching Questions/Topics: [00:01:11] Introducing Dana [00:03:08] What is the difference between satisfaction and contentment? [00:05:03] Exploring contentedness and its different avenues [00:06:32] Where is the overlap and what is separate between contentment and gratitude? [00:11:51] A discussion about the discomfort in familiarity [00:14:24] Is the struggle of holding onto contentment an issue of emotional self-regulation? [00:20:00] How much of the struggle around contentment comes from societal ideas of feeling content and ADHD brains needing novelty? [00:21:40] A discussion on Buddhist psychology and philosophy [00:23:52] How does one strive through the lens of Buddhist philosophy? [00:27:27] Not thinking about the future vs. over-planning for the future [00:29:40] Overidentification, rumination, and separation of self [00:31:32] How much of being able to experience being content has to do with resilience? [00:39:40] Dana shares more about growing up, undiagnosed ADHD, travel, and meeting the Dalai Lama [00:41:58] What is Ayurveda? [00:44:33] How can self-awareness inform our understanding of our experiences? [00:46:30] A moment of an idea of contentment [00:48:26] Closing thoughts 🌟 Have you heard about our Adult Study Hall Community? Go to adultstudyhall.com to join our ADHD-friendly body-doubling community! 🌟 Interested in group coaching and want to take your ADHD management to the next level? Go to coachingrewired.com to get all the up-to-date information on the upcoming season of ADHD reWired's award-winning Coaching & Accountability groups!
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