Secular Buddhism 209 - Unbecoming Ourselves (with Heather Schenck)
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Jul 29, 2025 In this engaging conversation, Heather Schenck, author of "Unbecoming Ourselves" and active member of the Secular Buddhism Sangha, shares her transformative journey of self-discovery. She discusses how Buddhist teachings on groundlessness and impermanence helped her navigate the pressures of identity and societal expectations. Heather opens up about the sneaky nature of suffering, the pitfalls of perfectionism, and the power of compassion in fostering authentic connections. This insightful dialogue offers encouragement for anyone grappling with self-worth and identity.
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Pandemic Fueled Personal Transformation
- Heather's pandemic experience intensified her struggle with self-judgment and identity labels like nurse and mother.
- This hardship prompted her to seek new perspectives, leading to profound personal transformations she shares in her book.
Labels Are Roles, Not Core
- Clinging tightly to identity labels causes extra suffering, especially when life circumstances change.
- Viewing labels as roles rather than core identity fosters flexibility and reduces pain.
Business Failure Revealed Identity Fusion
- Noah shared how his business collapse revealed his fusion of identity with his career.
- This painful experience helped him separate his self-worth from external roles like entrepreneur.
