Spiritually Hungry

How do we stay positive when our bodies need to heal? Physical recovery can be a powerful time of transformation. But it can also be very stressful when the outcome is uncertain, leaving us feeling like we are missing out on life and opportunities. In this episode of Spiritually Hungry, Monica and Michael discuss how to shift your internal dialog from “Why is this happening?” to “What do I need to learn from this?” Tune in as they examine the ways circumstances can push us towards greater growth and fulfillment in the midst of physical rest.  “You are not missing out on life, you are just experiencing a phase of life that doesn’t feel great in the moment. But there’s a gift in the experience. Resting and healing is its own form of productivity.” – Monica BergFurther Readings:Happiness by Design, by Paul Dolan PhD

How do we maintain equilibrium and stay true to ourselves in the midst of an emotionally fraught situation? How do we navigate empathy without getting dragged into someone else’s emotional turmoil? Emotions are contagious and the people around us can be some of the most influential factors in determining our state of wellbeing. By reframing our challenging relationships and realizing that every person and every situation in our lives has a purpose, we can see negative interactions as an opportunity to grow. Tune in as Monica and Michael share tips and tools for staying centered and avoiding the influence of negativity around us, so we continue working towards the person we ultimately want to be.“We are the arbiters of what is right or wrong for ourselves. Part of our spiritual development is to everyday care less and less about what strangers, as well as people in our lives, think of us. ” – Michael Berg

Did you know that you have a superpower? Our sense of intuition, that gut feeling we sometimes get in various aspects of life, is rooted in the energy of the universe and gives us the power to see beyond the logic and facts in front of us. Intuition helps us identify red flags to keep us safe and illuminates hidden messages from the universe to steer us in the direction we want to go. When we put in the spiritual work to live a life of purpose, our intuition strengthens, helping us make the right choices and receive the answers we seek. Tune in as Monica and Michael share tips and tools for developing our intuition, which, in turn, leads us away from our ego’s wishes and towards the true desires of our soul. Often, our intuition is right even when our logic says the complete opposite. – Michael BergFurther readings: The Black Swan by Nassim Taleb

As Monica prepares to go into surgery, a thoughtful messenger profoundly shifts her perspective, alleviating her anxieties in a single moment. Sometimes the words we need to hear can come from the most unexpected places. Messages from the universe are all around us, if only we are open to hearing them. Further, we can never truly know the impact our words can have upon others. As such, every moment counts. Everything we do matters. Listen as Monica and Michael discuss how we can hear the messages the universe means to give us, while also becoming a better messenger for those around us, and how the most seemingly-random of interactions can lead one or both parties to a life-changing moment. There are no coincidences; every moment you can give and receive impactful, lasting Light, wisdom, and inspiration, even in the small things. – Michael Berg

What is ‘truth’? Most of the truths we believe are usually derived from our personal experiences and perceptions – so are they really true? Does ‘absolute truth’ even exist? Listen as Monica and Michael share how we can always ‘live our truth’ by letting go of the ego-based illusions the world hurls at us and, instead, reveal our potential by behaving in accordance with our soul in deep authenticity.  In our world, truth is concealed by veils – our work is to pierce through these veils. – Michael Berg Further readings: Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman

Kindness or Deception: What Kinds of Lies Do You Tell? We all tell lies. Sometimes to others. Sometimes even to ourselves. Sometimes to protect someone else’s feelings, or to make ourselves feel better. When is lying considered a kindness, and when is it considered a deception? Tune in as Monica and Michael discuss the profound impact of the lies we tell, why kindness trumps truth, and how not all lies are created equal.  We have to ask ourselves if the lies we tell, whether to others or ourselves, actually make our reality better. – Michael Berg Further readings: The Lies that We Tell Ourselves by Jon Frederickson

Your Perfect Imperfection: How to Embrace & Celebrate Your Flaws Though we tend to think of our imperfections in a negative light – often as a result of external influences – they are actually part of what makes each of us unique and whole. Join Monica and Michael as they discuss where our thoughts of imperfection come from, why we are not meant to be perfect but instead constantly driven to be better, and how viewing our supposed ‘flaws’ in a positive way honors our soul and lights the path to true fulfillment. Our differences are really our superpowers. – Monica BergFurther readings: The Gifts of Imperfection by Brene BrownPlaying and Reality by Donald Winnicott

Change and growth are the keys to reaching our potential in life, and we can achieve this transformation through a process of constant self-assessment. Tune in as Monica and Michael explore how we can use consistent, deep, and honest introspection as a powerful tool for ditching negative thoughts and behaviors and revealing the immense greatness of our soul.  The person that I am today, despite all of the good things I’ve done, is not the person I am meant to be. – Michael Berg Further readings: Path of the Righteous by Moshe Chaim Luzzato

Whether conscious or subconscious, judging others is harmful and – as it usually comes from a place of lack or insecurity within ourselves – says infinitely more about us than whomever we judge. Listen as Monica and Michael discuss how we can fight our instinct to judge through an embrace of mercy and compassion, and how doing so not only creates a chain reaction that truly makes the world a better place, it also leads us to transforming into who we want to be. We never see something negative in another person so we can change them, we see it so we can change ourselves. – Michael BergFurther readings: This Is Water by David Foster Wallace Radical Compassion by Tara Brach Fundamentals by Frank Wilczek

Change is an exciting part of life; it leads us to better self-awareness, helps us think and act from our soul, and creates our unique path to the real fulfillment we are meant to live. Tune in as Monica and Michael share practical tips and tools for identifying if we are, in fact, changing for the better and not settling for anything less than our best life. Taking action leads to true transformation; don’t wait for life to happen to you, create your reality. – Monica Berg