Buddhability

You’re invited to a conversation hosted by Buddhability on how to overcome negative self-talk. We teamed up with Celebrity Makeup Artist Janice Kinjo, Former NFL Player Josh Scobey and Learning Behavior Specialist Jennifer Cook who will share their stories of overcoming self-doubt and negative self talk. When: Saturday, August 28, 2021 @ 11am PT / 1pm CT / 2pm ETRegister here: https://buddhability.org/practice/buddhability-talk-how-to-overcome-negative-self-talk/

Today we’re talking about work and more specifically, how to deal with feeling stuck. If you're feeling trapped by your job or routine, or if you have a secret dream that you haven't yet had the courage to pursue, this episode is for you.Our guest is Clara Kitongo, a young woman who started practicing Buddhism at a time when she was really feeling stuck in her career and life. Her journey with chanting opened up an entirely new perspective on what a creative life means, and now she's living the life she always wanted.CHEAT SHEET1:04 Introduction to Clara3:27 How she got stuck in a "treadmill type existence"6:04 What her dreams had been before she got stuck7:44 When and why she started practicing Buddhism11:36 How to become free from the chains of your own mind17:45 How she found her place in the workforce after school33:39 How she dealt with her pain along the journey35:36 What Buddhism says about opening the door to your life42:18 What a creative life really means44:49 How to deal with the opinions of others 49:55 Advice for anyone feeling afraid to open the door to their own life

Today’s episode is an in-depth conversation with actor Vinessa Shaw, who is known for her success as a child actor in movies such as Ladybugs and Hocus Pocus and then, as an adult, in Eyes Wide Shut and most recently, 12 Mighty Orphans, which is in theaters.Vinessa has been practicing Buddhism since childhood, and today she shares her honest experience dealing with success at a young age, struggling with perfectionism and finding true self-worth.She also shares advice on auditioning and rejection for actors, and her three favorite Buddhist quotes.CHEAT SHEET1:59 Why Vinessa started practicing Buddhism7:06 How she got into acting and the challenges of success as a child actor24:28 The role that chanting played in dealing with depression and anxiety33:45 What is self-esteem when you’re in the spotlight?40:07 How Buddhism helped her navigate taking a break from acting47:30 How she feels about acting now51:38 How chanting helped her battle negative self-talk57:32 Advice on rejection, especially for actors64:01 Being in rhythm and how she got 12 Mighty Orphans66:58 Three Buddhist quotes on believing in yourself

Tomorrow, we are kicking off our 31-Day Chanting Journey so today’s episode is filled with practical tips and advice on how to make the most of it, especially if one of your reasons for doing it is to address negative self-talk.Out guest is Erin Harris, who grew up practicing Buddhism in the Bay Area. Erin’s own story is so moving. She grew up with a stutter and at a young age, realized that the only time she felt she could really be her authentic self and not stutter was while chanting. Today, she breaks down how chanting works, and how it can help address questions of self-esteem, inner negativity and making every day a quality one.If you’re listening to this in August, join the chanting journey by signing up for our daily newsletter at www.buddhability.org.You’ll get daily prompts that you can combine with your chanting to fuel your growth, a downloadable calendar, as well as inspiration from others in the Buddhability community.CHEAT SHEET1:47 How Erin started practicing Buddhism3:15 Her experience with stuttering and how chanting helped6:18 How to chant and what it means9:02 The purpose of the Gohonzon and your altar10:47 What you can chant about15:02 Some tips on intention-setting if you are just starting out18:28 The role of the Buddhist community22:25 How to address negative self-talk26:35 Erin's own experiences overcoming negative self-talk through a chanting challenge32:18 Where to start if your struggle with self-esteem feels overwhelming39:01 Why it is important to be consistent with chanting42:16 One piece of advice for anyone starting the chanting journey

Just a short announcement today to share that starting August 1 we are doing another 31-Day Buddhability Journey where we invite you to try chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo for the month of August! Sign up at www.buddhability.org/journey

Today we are addressing how to navigate the loss of a loved one or support them through serious illness. While everyone's experience and circumstances are different, our guest, Jonathan Teran, shares his family's story, and the takeaways feel truly universal.           In August 2020, Jonathan lost his father to pulmonary fibrosis, and today he shares how his family used their Buddhist practice to navigate the journey, from finding him care, to supporting him during hospice, to dealing with the grief that came afterward.On top of all of this, his father’s battle took place during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in Texas, all while Jonathan himself was in his first few months as a resident physician.CHEAT SHEET1:30 How Jonathan started practicing Buddhism4:16 Why he decided to pursue a career in medicine10:29 His father's battle with illness17:30 How his family used their Buddhist practice to navigate the experience24:15 What they learned by studying Buddhism together30:04 What his darker moments felt like and how chanting helped35:06 How he is navigating grief38:52 The impact it had on his work as a doctor45:54 How chanting can help you bring out your best self49:42 What his dream is for the future51:38 Advice for anyone dealing with the loss of a loved one

Today we are talking about relationships and specifically addressing a few questions that we’ve received from listeners, which are: How do I decide if the person I’m with is the one? What does Buddhism say about creating a healthy long-term relationship? And how can I support my partner while also supporting myself?Our guest is Faith Jones, a young woman whose journey with Buddhism is intertwined with her relationship experience. Practicing Buddhism helped her identify a tendency to seek happiness based on external validation, not only in relationships but also at work and in other situations. She shares her story today, which is filled with so many practical insights, applicable to relationships of all kinds.CHEAT SHEET2:17 How Faith encountered Buddhism through her partner6:28 Why she started chanting8:19 Her pattern of seeking validation through relationships12:48 The story of her relationship with Cole22:14 What it was like to support his transition and go through her own transformation25:25 How she chanted through the process28:48 How to support your partner without controlling them35:10 How to decide to be with someone for the long term41:24 Navigating feeling erased by someone else’s story43:58 Her favorite Buddhist concept48:10 Advice to anyone who might be feeling insecure in their relationship

Today we’re discussing creative work, but the lessons apply to virtually anything in your life that brings out feelings of resistance, fear or self-doubt.Our guest is Monica Ong, a Connecticut-based visual poet and designer. She’s been practicing Buddhism ever since discovering it on study abroad in high school and our conversation today is filled with practical insights on how to navigate a creative career as a Buddhist.Monica’s own story is about identity and paving her own way as a visual poet. In 2015, her book, Silent Anatomies, was selected by U.S. Poet Laureate Joy Harjo as the winner of the Kore Press First Book Award in poetry.On this episode, she shares about her journey as a Buddhist and a creative, as well as how chanting helped her navigate the pandemic, when she struggled deeply with sleep issues and health.Key takeaway: Chanting and taking small, consistent steps to tackle our self-doubt can help us create the life and work we are proudest of, no matter what others might think.CHEAT SHEET1:32 Introduction to Monica's work2:44 How she became a visual poet6:53 When and why she started practicing Buddhism11:08 How chanting impacted her creative work and path15:36 Dealing with insomnia during the pandemic 23:55 How she has challenged self-doubt and resistance33:18 Balancing work, art and family all at once40:35 Navigating the desire for validation as an artist47:47 Her favorite Buddhist teaching50:03 What she's working on now, and a poem about Vera RubinNote: In the poem about Vera Rubin that Monica reads at the end of the show, she refers to an excerpt from this article. 

Six years ago today, on June 26, 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court ratified same-sex marriage, a monumental achievement after a more than 25-year battle across the country.Recently, journalist Sasha Issenberg published a riveting, comprehensive history of that struggle, titled The Engagement: America’s Quarter Century Struggle Over Same-Sex Marriage, tracing it back to 1990, when the political movement took off with a case in the Hawaii Supreme Court.At that point, Issenberg explains, no significant gay rights group had endorsed marriage as an objective. But, in 1990, when three same-sex couples applied for marriage licenses in Honolulu and were denied, they turned to a lawyer named Dan Foley. Less than three years later, the Hawaii Supreme Court became the first court in the world to conclude that queer couples’ freedom to marry was a basic civil right. The rest is a fascinating and groundbreaking history of the national journey toward June 26, 2015.Today we are speaking with that lawyer, Dan Foley, who practices SGI Nichiren Buddhism. He shares his journey through the case, and how Buddhism can you help you win, no matter what your fight is.CHEAT SHEET3:20 Dan’s work as a lawyer and judge6:13 When and why he started practicing Buddhism9:25 A short history of the same-sex marriage case in Hawaii17:01 The impact it had on the rest of the country21:28 The role that chanting played in his work26:17 Why he didn’t give up30:46 The growth he had to go through along the way37:00 How anyone can tap into their Buddhability and make a difference38:27 How to summon compassion and respect in a system that is unjust45:18 Advice to anyone struggling to believe they can make a real difference

Today we're talking about how not to give up on your dream.Even if we discover our dream job or purpose at a young age, on the path to pursuing it, we often have to grapple with our own self-doubt, tough decisions, and at times, challenging and unexpected obstacles.Today we’re talking to Michael Cornell, a 5th-grade teacher in New York City. After struggling with anxiety and depression during graduate school, and then facing the realities of education in NYC, his journey in education became more and more challenging. But when he discovered Buddhism along the way, chanting helped him expand his own vision for education and develop the spirit to do his best at every task in front of him. Key takeaway: Our environment doesn’t need to dictate whether we feel we are on the right path or not. Rather, by tapping into our Buddhability through chanting, we can create the conditions to advance toward our dreams, no matter what’s happening around us.CHEAT SHEET1:24 How Michael discovered his passion for education4:21 Why he was drawn to Buddhism10:58  What his vision for education was14:23 How chanting impacted his daily life32:41 What a value-creation based vision for education looks like39:01 How to create the conditions for trust and success46:20 The award Michael is currently up for